World Bank team visits Sudan for first time since 2021 coup

December 1, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – A high-level delegation from the World Bank arrived in Port Sudan on Monday to review projects stalled since the formal relationship was suspended in 2021, the Ministry of Finance announced.

The Bank had previously halted over $1.8 billion in grants designated for budget support, agricultural irrigation, and improving electricity production and delivery following the military coup of October 25, 2021.

Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim welcomed the Bank’s return, telling the mission that the government’s immediate priorities include reconstruction, the rehabilitation of infrastructure in Khartoum, and the restoration of essential services such as health, education, water, and electricity.

The World Bank mission included Regional Director for Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea Mariam Salim, Country Manager Ouenchiro Ishihara, and economist Mohamed Osman.

Mariam Salim confirmed the purpose of the visit was to assess the performance of the $540.2 million portfolio of active projects. She noted that a special Bank meeting in November extended support for Sudan via new projects focused on food security and basic services.

Since October 20, 2024, the World Bank has channelled funds through U.N. agencies to cover health, water, education, farming, and resilience support for poor families. Salim added that a new project focusing on clean, digital energy has also been approved.

To ensure performance and sustainability, the head of the mission stressed the need to create a joint coordinating unit within the Ministry of Finance to directly manage the portfolio and coordinate with implementing partners.