Sudan’s finance minister in Washington to discuss debt relief with World Bank
October 10, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s Finance Minister will discuss with international financial institutions ways to clear challenges facing debt forgiveness during his participation in their annual meeting this week.
From October 10 to 16, the meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will take place in Washington to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, global financial stability, poverty eradication, economic growth and job creation, and climate change, among others.
Gibril Ibrahim Mohamed leads the Sudanese delegation for the annual meetings, which gather central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media and academics.
“The delegation will discuss the obstacles to addressing Sudan’s external debt and its opportunities to benefit from international debt forgiveness initiatives,” reads a statement issued by the finance ministry in Khartoum.
Following the coup of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the civilian-led government, the World Bank suspended all its operations in Sudan, including the debt relief process under the HIPC initiative.
The World Bank required the restoration of the transitional civilian government before resuming the country’s paused economic support.
The minister will, also, brief the international financial institutions about the ongoing economic reforms, and discuss the needed technical assistance to achieve it, added the statement.
The delegation discussed the obstacles to addressing Sudan’s external debt and its opportunities to benefit from international debt forgiveness initiatives, reviewed the ongoing economic developments and reforms, and discussed Sudan’s needs in the field of technical assistance.
The coup leaders in Sudan withdrew from a process to restore the civilian government facilitated by a tripartite panel involving UNITAMS, African Union and IGAD.
Also, they declined to take part in the would-be-formed transitional government. Still, the National Consensus Forces, which include the group of the finance minister, said the participation of the military component is needed and refused to accept the fully-formed civilian government.
(ST)