SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: al-Taghyeer - Stability of the Sudanese pound: Fears of decline, stability factors

7/9/2021: al-Taghyeer - Stability of the Sudanese pound: Fears of decline, stability factors, by Elfadil Ibrahim

Al-Taghyeer’s feature piece provides contrasting views on the stability of the Sudanese pound.

Economic researcher Babiker Ahmed Abdullah attributes stability to government policies, security campaigns against black market currency traders, Central Bank of Sudan’s currency auctions, adding that stability can be sustained if the state abides by import policies and controls.

Banking expert Dr. Louay Abdelmoneim said the stability is “fake”, a result of increased production and exports, and that the currency auction was “politicised” as they were handed out disproportionately, thereby reducing imports and increasing market prices, leading to a greater reliance on foreign goods and raw materials.

He also warned of an economic collapse once the security campaign ends, given Sudan’s trade imbalance and lack of gross national product increase.

To achieve currency exchange stability, economic analyst Dr. Haitham Mohamed Fathi called for “increasing and improving production quality to meet local needs and reduce imports and increase exports.”

SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: Institute for Security Studies - All Eyes On Sudan’s Peace Deal With Armed Groups

7/9/2020: Institute for Security Studies - All Eyes On Sudan’s Peace Deal With Armed Groups, by Peter Fabricius

 Institute for Security Studies (ISS) consultant Peter Fabricius questions whether the Juba peace agreement can provide peace if it exempts the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) faction of Abdelaziz el-Hilu and the Sudan Liberation Movement on Abdelwahid al-Nur (SLM-AW).

 Fabricius writes that political parties “fear they would lose substantial public support if they abandoned sharia,” despite el-Hilu’s insistence on secularism.

 Meanwhile, al-Nur – who “has significant support in Darfur” believes “Khartoum lacks the political will to meet the demands made by armed groups,” according to ISS researcher Shewit Woldemichael, who argued that the deal will not deliver sustainable peace amid the absence of groups with combatants on the ground.

 Even if rebel leaders sign the deal, “conflict will continue, because soldiers reject it or the group splits,” as has happened “many times in Sudan’s history,” she said.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Radio Dabanga – Sudan peace agreement to be signed on October 2

7/9/2020: Radio Dabanga – Sudan peace agreement to be signed on October 2

 Radio Dabanga report that hundreds of people in the Hamidiya and Tur Kalami camps for the displaced near Darfur’s state capital Zalingei demonstrated against the Juba peace agreement.

 In Central Darfur, the demonstrators said they feel that the displaced are not represented in the agreement. Radio Dabanga add that they support the position of Abdelwahid al-Nur, who adheres to his position that he will only enter peace talks after security and stability have been restored in Darfur.

 Participants in the protest march carried banners saying that the Juba agreement is similar to the earlier Abuja (1993) and Doha (2011) accords. They demanded that the rights of the victims of violence in the camps be respected.

 Ahmed Juma, Coordinator of the Hamidiya camp, told Radio Dabanga that all agreements on Darfur that have been signed so far “trade the rights of the displaced”.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: AFP – African Union lifts suspension of Sudan

7/9/19: AFP – African Union lifts suspension of Sudan

AFP reports that the African Union has lifted its suspension of Sudan three months after freezing its membership following the June 3 massacre.

 The AU's Peace and Security Council said that the decision followed the announcement of Sudan's first cabinet since the ousting of veteran leader Omar Al Bashir.

 The move was hailed by AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki as "the beginning of a new era" for Sudan.

SUDAN NEWS ALERT: Multiple sources – Al Bashir kept key to room with millions of euros, court hears

7/9/19: Multiple sources – Al Bashir kept key to room with millions of euros, court hears

• Reuters, by Khalid Abdelaziz

• CNN, by Yassir Abdalla

 Former president Omar Al Bashir was the only person with a key to a room at the presidential palace holding millions of euros, his last office manager Yasser Basheer testified.

 Basheer said the former president gave him more than 10 million euros’ ($11 million) cash in his final months of rule for delivery to different parties, including 5 million euros for Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, Himedti’s brother and deputy head of the Rapid Support Forces.

 Other recipients of cash included the Defence Ministry, plus military personnel and civilians for medical treatment, Basheer said, adding that he did not know the source of the cash and was only following orders.

 Abdelmoneim Mohamed, an accountant at the International University of Africa, a private institution with links to Islamists, also testified in Bashir’s defence. He said the university’s director and deputy director received 4 million euros in cash from Bashir.