In our post from last month: Sudanese refugees facing deportation amid excessive use of force on peaceful demonstrators in Sudan, we mentioned an article by KACE Sudan in which they explained that demonstrations across Sudan began on 6 January, set off by the announcement of Sudan’s 2018 budget and the lifting of subsidies and other measures, effectively tripling Sudan’s US dollar exchange rate and increasing the price of basic commodities.
Life in Sudan is getting more and more difficult, and in his post (read here) Eric Reeves provides all the details to better understand the current situation:
The Central Bank of Sudan, which has only an exceedingly small amount of foreign exchange currency (Forex), has banned any non-governmental agent or business from using its own Forex for imports. One way or another, in other words, the National Islamic Front/National Congress Party regime is determined to arrogate to itself all Forex (also known as “hard currency,” currency not subject to the massive inflation rates presently ravaging Sudan).
This is, as the Radio Dabanga headline suggests, “disastrous”: it means that even food (i.e., flour for bread) and medicines cannot be imported, commodities desperately needed by the people of Sudan. And it means even greater inflation for the price of bread, the staple food for many Sudanese families. Having already suffered a 300% increase in the price of bread with the promulgation of the 2018 budget (in late December 2017)—and another 25% increase this past weekend—prices are set to skyrocket even further upwards. And the ban on use of private Forex to import even the most critical medicines will certainly cost lives, and put many medicine beyond the financial reach of millions of Sudanese.
Reeves quotes Professor Hamid Eltigani, the head of the Department of Public Policy and Administration at the American University (Cairo) saying that these ‘economic measures will have disastrous consequences in a matter of days […] With these measures the government will force the flight of investors, exporters, importers, and halt trade.‘
Steve Hanke, Professor of Applied Economics and Co-Director of the Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore tweeted about Sudan’s annual inflation rate, second highest in the world…
Sudan's annual inflation rate is currently 128%, 2nd highest in the world. It has recently surpassed South Sudan, which is the 3rd highest inflation rate in the world. pic.twitter.com/dEiH4tIYNY
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) February 2, 2018
The situation in all Sudan regions, in Khartoum, from Darfur to White Nile State and elsewhere is alarming. Eric Reeves tweeted:
In Darfur, in White Nile State, in Khartoum and elsewhere: inflation rages on, accompanied by growing shortages. Lines for bread make clear these shortages are affecting the lives of all ordinary #Sudan/ese. The NIF/NCP regime remains squarely in cross-hairs of popular protests: pic.twitter.com/cJBKJQLiuO
— Eric Reeves (@sudanreeves) February 7, 2018
In the meantime, as Sudanese people are facing strong economic difficulties, Sudanese security forces are cracking down on protesters… The deteriorating situation and the escalating violence bode no good for the future of the country.
