Sudan lifts ban on imported goods to ease living costs

October 22, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim said on Thursday that the decision to cancel the list of banned imported goods takes into account the needs of citizens amid difficult living conditions.

He added that necessary measures are simultaneously being taken to protect local products.

In April, the Council of Ministers banned the import of more than 40 commodities, describing them as luxurious and non-essential.

The move aimed to curb exchange rate volatility in parallel markets, encourage local industries, and support the national economy.

However, the decision faced sharp rejection from the National Chamber of Importers, which threatened to challenge it in court.

On Wednesday, local press reports indicated that the President of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, summoned the Ministers of Finance and Industry and Trade.

Al-Burhan directed the cancellation of the banned goods list and ordered the exemption of vegetables, fruits, and legumes from customs duties.

Ibrahim stated in a post on the X platform that he assures citizens the decision considered the needs of consumers struggling to make a living, while still maintaining adequate measures to protect local industries.

He also revealed that a small committee under his chairmanship made further decisions aimed at providing citizens with their daily living needs and alleviating their suffering.

Al-Burhan’s moves to regulate the markets come as citizens experience massive hardship in securing their daily sustenance.

Prices of basic commodities have recently surged to record levels across the country.

This significant rise in the cost of essential goods has been accompanied by a rapid collapse in the value of the national currency against foreign currencies, particularly the US dollar.