Sudan has announced emergency measures to address major disruptions in exports and imports, as Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim moves to stabilize an economy severely weakened by conflict since April 2023.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, April 22, the Ministry of Finance said a Government task force had been directed to implement immediate solutions to trade bottlenecks while pursuing long-term structural reforms.
The ministry emphasised the need to secure agricultural inputs, strengthen manufacturing capacity and upgrade livestock processing to boost export value and access new markets. The reforms also include tighter anti-smuggling controls and increased support for the private sector through import substitution strategies aimed at protecting domestic industries and ensuring the supply of essential goods.
Sudan’s economy has contracted by more than 42 per cent since the outbreak of war, with around 60 per cent of the population losing their sources of income. The national currency has sharply depreciated, trading at over 4,000 pounds to the US dollar. According to the World Bank, the country’s GDP shrank significantly in 2023 and 2024, with recovery to pre-war levels not expected until at least 2031. Government revenues have also declined sharply, while trade data indicates a widening deficit, underscoring the scale of the economic crisis.
