Challenge of the new currency
Editorial, The Khartoum Monitor
Dec 19, 2006 — It has been announced that the new Sudanese pound currency will officially be in circulation as of 9 January, 2007. This is a welcome development as it indicates progress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
This is not the first time a new currency has replaced an old one. The former Sudanese president, Jaafar Numeiri, ordered the Bank of Sudan to change the then existing currency and replace them with new denominations that had his picture on them. The current regime of President Umar al-Bashir, following his coup de tat in 1989, also ordered the change of the then currency in circulation and replaced it with the current Sudanese Dinar. This means Sudan has cumulative experience of how to change or replace currencies.
However, the process of currency change this time is more complex than the former ones. In that all former Sudanese currency denominations, during Numeiri’s era and Al Bashir’s regime, are still in circulation in southern Sudan along with the currencies of neighbouring countries. This will make the exchange exercise more difficult and complex.
What we are worried about is the fact that, from now until 9 January is too short of a period to disseminate information throughout southern Sudan, given communication difficulties and the lack of an effective broadcast network and other media channels. Worst though is to date, the information campaign for the currency change has not been officially launched in southern Sudan. The sample specimens of the new currency’s denominations are not yet on display for the public to acquaint themselves with and recognize the differences. This simple but important exercise should have been started at least three months before the assigned date.
The real worry is that the conventional media channels in southern Sudan are ineffective and only cover limited areas. They also target either English or Arabic speakers around urbanised areas. People in the rural areas need a different information dissemination strategy in a language they can easily understand, and this has not yet been done or exposed. This is a point GOSS needs to reflect on before the new currency change kicks off on 9 January, 2007.