Sudan further limits sale of foreign currency to certain travelers

August 10, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese central bank today imposed more restrictions on people traveling abroad in a growing sign of the severity of hard currency shortage in the country.

Travelers to Jordan, Syria and Egypt will only be able to buy $1,000 worth of foreign currency at local forex bureaus. The decision did not explain why these countries were singled out. These destinations are generally the most popular for Sudanese traveling for tourism, medication and enrolling in universities.

This year, the Sudanese authorities stepped up its restrictions on sale of hard currency after the Sudanese pound lost grounds against the dollar leading to a flourishing black market. It has intervened in the market by supplying more hard currency which led to a sharp decline in foreign exchange reserves held by the central bank reaching $390 million in 2009 from $1.58 billion in 2006, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Before today’s directives, travelers from Sudan are only permitted to take a maximum of the equivalent of 2,000 Euros of any foreign currency out of Sudan after providing the necessary documentation to justify the need for it. The travelers will be able to buy the foreign currency before leaving the currency but can only receive it at the airport after clearing immigration and customs.

The central bank lists ten classes of people allowed to buy foreign currency which includes travelers for leisure or medication, students, participants in conferences, foreign workers and pilgrims.

(ST)