Sudan conflict leaves banking sector in limbo

The conflict in Sudan has thrown the banking sector into chaos.

Many Sudanese have been locked out of their savings as the seven-day ceasefire agreed last week approaches the end.

“Previously, it was very difficult to transfer money, and it has become worse after the fighting broke out”, complained a resident in Madani who opted to remain anonymous.

Fighting between Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has brought the country’s financial system to a standstill.

“Regarding the events in the past period, a large number of people have fled Khartoum to Madani due to the war, and all Western Union services were suspended for 21 days”, said Abu Dharr Hasan, employee at a money transfer office.

“We would show people that Western Union services are suspended during the early days [of the battles, Ed.]. Afterwards, they adopted the policy of safe zones, that is, cities in which no problems [battles, Ed.] occurred.
So, they started pumping money and people began to get out, and people understood [the situation, Ed.], as everybody is aware of the situation in the country”, concluded the office employee.

Elsewhere, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has re-affirmed his full confidence in UN special envoy Volker Perthes after a request from General al-Burhan for him to be removed from the post.

Africanews/Hauwa M.