Sudanese MP calls for lifting of wheat subsidies

December 3, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – An MP in the Sudanese parliament said he is leaning towards submitting a memorandum demanding the lifting of subsidies on wheat amid growing calls in the assembly for the removal of subsidies on fuel and wheat.

Protests erupted throughout Sudan following the partial removal of fuel subsidies in September 2013 leading to the death of hundreds and injury of thousands.

It was the most violent demonstrations since the 1989 coup which brought president Omer Hassan al-Bashir to power.

MP Mohamed Ahmed al-Zein told reporters that the government subsidises wheat with about 180 million pounds and stressed the need to have the government import wheat directly.

He claimed that the government pays some suppliers $2 billion dollars to import two million tonnes of wheat, even though it can import 3 million tonnes on its own.

Three mill companies in Sudan have a monopoly over imported wheat to Sudan.

Al-Zein said that the primary move they will make as MPs is to educate citizens because it is not in their interests to have billions of pounds going into the pockets of a handful of people.

“These billions of dollars that subsidize wheat should go directly to citizens,” he said.

He called for having the wheat’s strategic reserve under the control of the presidency saying it is a national security issue adding that mill owners should not be allowed to import wheat.

The MP said the government should lift subsidies and begin the process of guardianship on wheat adding that “citizens should not be at the mercy of [few] people”.

“The fact is that they [mill owners] can stop wheat shipments at the sea if you do not pay them,” al-Zein said before disclosing that such an incident occurred two weeks ago.

Zein said that the import of wheat and subsidizing it poses a burden on the budget because it is now controlled by few people adding that the money saved if distributed could make poor families rich.

(ST)