Central bank resumes operations in Khartoum as Sudan ministry announces wage increase
January 22, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – The Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) on Thursday announced the resumption of its operations in the capital, Khartoum, as the Ministry of Finance confirmed plans for a gradual increase in public sector wages.
Central Bank Governor Amna Mirghani told reporters that the bank’s return to Khartoum is a pivotal step that signals the return of the entire banking sector to the capital, which will support reconstruction efforts.
Mirghani said the bank has reactivated the clearinghouse, launched the national switch, and is working to roll out a unified banking application. She also noted that banking policies have been adjusted to allow banks to finance health and educational institutions and improve housing for citizens, adding that the banking system will assist the public in rebuilding.
The central bank has set up an alternative headquarters at its staff club in the Al-Amarat neighbourhood of south-central Khartoum after its main offices in the city centre sustained heavy damage during the war.
Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim said the security situation in Khartoum is stable, noting that the central bank’s return paves the way for the return of commercial banks and business leaders.
Ibrahim confirmed that the Wages Council is developing a formula to increase salaries for state employees. He said the increase would be tangible but implemented at a pace that does not fuel inflation. He added that wages have not been adjusted for some time, resulting in a decline in civil servants’ purchasing power.
Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza said security and the economy are the primary elements of recovery, describing the central bank’s return as a message of reassurance to international institutions.
The government recently ordered federal ministries and institutions to return to Khartoum after Port Sudan served as a temporary capital for nearly 30 months.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out in the capital in mid-April 2023. The army regained control of Khartoum in March 2025.