Sudan’s Burhan sacks central bank governor over gold export row

October 13, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The head of Sudan’s ruling council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Monday dismissed the central bank governor and appointed the first woman to hold the post, following a sharp dispute over gold export regulations.

A decree from the council announced the dismissal of Borai El Siddig Ali Ahmed and the appointment of veteran banker Amna Mirghani Hassan al-Toum as his successor. The decree did not state a reason for the change.

The move came after a contentious meeting over the central bank’s policy to control gold exports exclusively, according to media reports. The policy, supported by Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim, had faced opposition from some exporters.

In September, the central bank banned gold exports except through its own channels at global market prices, a measure aimed at controlling foreign currency reserves and curbing smuggling.

However, the head of the official Gold Exporters Division, Abdel Monem El Siddig, distanced his organisation from the dispute. He denied in a statement that his group met with the prime minister, alleging the meeting involved an “unknown” and “illegitimate” group of exporters.

El Siddig accused this other group of being illegally supported by executive bodies and of previously “destroying the Sudanese economy” by buying gold at inflated prices, which devalued the local currency.

He called on the prime minister to form a committee to review gold export revenues since the war began.

The statement from El Siddig’s division added that the policies pursued by the outgoing governor had served the national economy’s interest.