![]() Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance.Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security.Arms Control and International Security.Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy.Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority Special Representative for Syria Engagement.Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.Special Presidential Coordinator for the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Global AIDS Coordinator and Global Health Diplomacy Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology.Some economists said they expected the effect of devaluation on inflation to be limited because almost all transactions were already being carried out at the black market rate. Unusually violent protests that authorities blamed on ex-regime loyalists broke out in several regions early this month.Ī donor-funded family support programme meant to soften the blow of subsidy cuts was delayed due to the exchange rate gap, though Zainelabidine said funds to be spent at the new rate would be disbursed to the finance ministry from Monday. Annual inflation has accelerated to more than 300 percent, one of the world’s highest rates. However, an economic crisis that triggered mass protests against al-Bashir has continued, marked by shortages of fuel, bread and electricity. Last year the government lifted most fuel subsidies, meeting another key demand from lenders, and the United States removed Sudan from its “state sponsors of terrorism” list as its leaders agreed to take steps towards normalising relations with Israel. The success of the transition is seen as crucial to stability in a volatile region, as Sudan emerges from decades of international isolation. Hamdok is serving under a joint military-civilian council that took power after the overthrow of veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. ![]() It comes less than two weeks after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok appointed a new government to add rebel group leaders who signed a peace deal in October, including Ibrahim. Sunday’s move had been expected late last year under an IMF staff monitoring programme that could lead to relief on Sudan’s estimated $60bn in foreign debt, but was held up by political uncertainty.Īs well as paving the way for debt relief, the devaluation would help stabilise the currency, reduce smuggling and speculation, and attract remittances from Sudanese working overseas, the central bank said in a statement. Ibrahim said Sudan’s customs exchange rate was not included in the devaluation and its reform was still under study. Steps had been taken to streamline imports of strategic commodities and limit imports of non-essential goods before the devaluation, officials said. “The decision is not a float, but a policy of flexible management,” said central bank Governor Mohamed al-Fatih Zainelabidine. Authorities would not control the rate, the central bank governor told reporters, though Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim said unspecified foreign funds were on their way to Sudan and the central bank could intervene if needed. The circular also set a profit margin between buying and selling prices of no more than 0.5 percent. Banks and exchange bureaus are required to trade within 5 percent above or below that rate. The central bank will set a daily indicative rate in a “flexible managed float”, a circular sent to banks said. Recently, the dollar traded at between 350 and 400 Sudanese pounds on the black market. The central bank set the indicative rate at 375 pounds to the US dollar, several commercial banking sources said, from a previous official rate of 55 pounds. The change on Sunday is a key reform demanded by foreign donors and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but was delayed for months as shortages of basic goods and rapid inflation complicated a fragile political transition. The Central Bank of Sudan has sharply devalued the currency, announcing a new regime to “unify” official and black-market exchange rates in an effort to overcome a crippling economic crisis and access debt relief.
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