Sudan extends currency exchange deadline after protests

December 31, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudanese authorities on Tuesday extended the deadline to exchange old banknotes for new ones until January 6 after protests erupted in the east of the country.

The original deadline to exchange 500 and 1,000 Sudanese pound notes expired on Monday in several states, including the Red Sea, Northern, and River Nile. Many people were unable to deposit their money in time due to a requirement to open a bank account beforehand.

Dozens of people protested in Port Sudan, the country’s temporary administrative capital, on Tuesday, blocking the Red Sea state government headquarters and the central bank.

“The High Committee for Currency Exchange announces the extension of the exchange period from Wednesday, January 1, 2025, until Monday, January 6, 2025,” Sudan’s Culture and Information Minister and government spokesman, Khalid al-A’aysar, said in a statement.

He added that the extension aims to allow citizens in all targeted states to complete the exchange process “with ease. “

The government launched the currency exchange initiative on December 10 in an attempt to combat counterfeiting and stabilize the exchange rate following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) widespread looting of banks.

The exchange was implemented in Gedaref, Kassala, Red Sea, River Nile, Northern, Blue Nile, White Nile, and Sennar states. It did not include areas controlled by the RSF, including the capital, Khartoum.

This is the second time the deadline has been extended. It was initially set for Dec. 23 and then pushed to December 30.