Khartoum opposes newly issued southern Sudan currency

KHARTOUM, June 3, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The Sudanese government has officially informed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it was opposed to Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), issuing an independent currency note circulated in SPLM-controlled areas during the war.

The new currency “New Sudan Pound” is in the denominations of one, five, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 pound notes.

Officials from the Finance Ministry said that SPLM issuing an independent currency was considered to be a violation to the peace agreement. They called on SPLM to stop circulating the new note and to retain what it had gathered from the citizens.

The government had agreed with SPLM in February 2005 that they would officially replace the Sudanese dinar, which is currently in circulation, with the Sudanese pound. The rebels are opposed to using the Sudanese dinar as it symbolized Islamic culture.

SPLM sources said that the New Sudan Pound will replace the Old Sudanese Pound which is not legal tender in government-administered areas, is in tatters and unhealthy.

The Sudanese pound was the currency used in the country until the current government came into power and changed it to the Sudanese dinar. It is worth noting that one Sudanese dinar is equivalent to 10 Sudanese pounds.