Sudanese dinar resisted by Yambio people

28 April 2006 (NAIROBI) — The introduction of the Dinar currency to Yambio County in Western Equatoria state is being resisted by traders and many ordinary people in the area.

The Nile Commercial Bank introduced the Dinar (US dollar is equivalent to 235.016 Sudanese dinars) as legal tender in Western Equatoria state earlier this month, for the first time since before the war broke out.

Banks deputy manager Lawrence Wanga told Sudan Radio Service (SRS) that the introduction of the dinar has brought — what he called — “a lot of confusion in to the market.” He added that the bank will educate people about the value of the currency and its exchange rate against other currencies.

Wanga: “In fact, it is going to be very difficult, but we are going to try so that people understand the dinar and its importance, because so many people say the dinar has got no value and it is too weak. But that is not true. The dinar is the currency of Sudan which is going to be used in the country.”

Some traders in Yambio County told SRS that the dinar is not being accepted by local people in the market. They say its rejection is affecting their businesses because the people have not yet understood the value of the currency.

(SRS/ST)