General Abdel Fattah al Burhan-backed government has launched a new currency exchange aimed at strengthening its financial system.
The move, which forces citizens to deposit old notes into banks, is intended to bolster bank deposits and support the Burhan-controlled army’s war effort, according to Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim.
However, the initiative has sparked concerns that millions are being excluded from the financial system.
Since the onset of the two-year conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Burhan-controlled SAF, the country’s economy has been severely damaged.
The local currency has lost three-quarters of its value, and half the population is now facing hunger.
Burhan-backed government’s new currency system requires people to exchange old notes for new 500 and 1,000-pound bills, but withdrawals are limited to small daily amounts.
This has funneled funds from Sudan’s unbanked population into the formal banking sector.
In Port Sudan, the army’s wartime capital, residents and traders are also voicing dissatisfaction.
Many lack the necessary identification to open accounts, and cash access has become increasingly difficult.
The new notes, printed in Russia, reflect the complex international involvement in Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
While the initiative aims to revive the economy, its controversial nature continues to divide the nation.