SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Reuters – Sudan to lift fuel subsidies gradually in 2020: minister

27/12/2019: Reuters – Sudan to lift fuel subsidies gradually in 2020: minister

Reuters reports that Finance Minister Ibrahim Elbadawi plans to remove fuel subsidies gradually in 2020.

Elbadawi did not say how the budget for next year would be funded or what the government forecast was for revenue and expenditure, nor what Sudan expected in donor support -  (In November he said Sudan needs $5 million).

Subsidies for petrol and gasoline would be gradually lifted next year, while subsides for wheat and cooking gas would be kept in place.

Elbadawi said the 2020 budget would increase spending for education and social spending, and there would be also aid for needy families. Provinces hit by conflict would be allocated an extra 9.3 billion pounds, and the government hopes to double civil service pay and raise the minimum wage to 1,000 Sudanese pounds ($22), up from 425 pounds.