In Sudan, the price of daily products has risen by more than 400% in one year, according to government figures. The rate of inflation is deteriorating every month and the Sudanese are watching the series of austerity reforms introduced by the transitional authorities to get into the nails set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
as reported from Khartoum, Eliott Brachet
After 30 years of mismanagement and US sanctions during Omar al-Bashir’s reign, overthrown in April 2019, Sudan is still in a deep economic crisis that the government has promised to stop. In the evening with Eid al Kabir, the Sudanese get upset.
A few hours before Eid, it’s the crowd in Omdurman’s souk.
Ahmed Abdallah made his latest purchases before celebrating this holiday with the family. He has just bought a sheep, but has never paid so much: “Prices have exploded, it’s crazy. This sheep cost me more than 100 euros. Previously, it was four times cheaper. What has increased is animal feed. Then there is the price of petrol, which makes transporting livestock extremely expensive. The financial situation is really difficult. ”
In recent months, the removal of fuel subsidies as well as the introduction of a floating exchange rate have caused daily prices to skyrocket.
Zubeida Mohammed is loaded with bags of vegetables. For this mother of four children, household costs have become unreasonable: “First there is electricity, but also water. You pay 1,000 Sudanese pounds of electricity and one week is not enough! There are people living out in the rain. The money that foreign countries have promised will not come here. I’m disappointed. The only thing that makes me happy are my children at home. Compared to previous years, Eid looks really different ”.
The reforms supported by the IMF to reduce the country’s debt have aroused public dissatisfaction. Demonstrations are often against the deterioration of everyday life. The government urges citizens to be patient.
On Friday, July 16, about twenty creditors in Sudan, united in the Paris Club, announced that they had largely erased Sudan’s slate to allow a return to the international scene.
Also read: Why the Sudanese economy is in check
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