Sudan finance minister denies foreign deposit bolstered currency
July 5, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Finance and Economic Planning Minister Gibril Ibrahim has denied that the country received a foreign financial deposit to improve the exchange rate, asserting that government policies succeeded in stabilizing the pound against foreign currencies.
The Sudanese local currency experienced a sharp decline in recent weeks before the government intervened, injecting 400 million dirhams in foreign currency into banks to cover import needs.
In an interview with Sudan TV, Ibrahim confirmed that the country is facing difficult economic conditions due to the war’s repercussions. He acknowledged that citizens face great suffering but noted that the government is working to address the economic situation and create alternatives to improve the standard of living.
He added that at the beginning of the war, he expected the dollar to reach around 10,000 Sudanese pounds in 2025 due to production halts and high demand for foreign currency. However, the measures taken by the government helped limit the rise of the exchange rate, and he predicted a continued decline of the dollar in the parallel market.
The minister admitted that the drop in the exchange rate has not yet been reflected in consumer prices.
He explained that the fundamental solution to the economic crisis lies in increasing production and adding value to Sudanese products instead of exporting them as raw materials.
Ibrahim revealed that the government spends about 50 billion pounds per month to subsidize the electricity sector. The funds finance maintenance, operation, and infrastructure rehabilitation, which help restore electricity to affected areas and improve supply stability.
Regarding political affairs, the finance minister said that gaining international allies during the war is not easy. He stressed that international relations are based on mutual interests, and support cannot be obtained for free.
He emphasized the importance of providing the necessary funding for the war effort, stating that spending on the war must be sufficient to achieve victory. He described the economic war facing the country as an attempt to weaken state resources and financial capabilities.
He pointed out that due to the war, the government was forced to significantly reduce employees’ salaries to direct resources toward the war effort.
He also noted that returning to Khartoum cost the state a massive amount of money to provide water and electricity services and to rehabilitate basic services.
The Sudanese economy is experiencing a significant decline due to the ongoing war, increased security and defence spending, high imports, and weak exports.
The Central Bank of Sudan reported in its 2025 foreign trade statistical summary that total Sudanese exports amounted to about $2.64 billion, while imports totalled $6.49 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of approximately $3.86 billion.