The prices of the US dollar and the Saudi riyal have risen against the Sudanese pound in the black market in Sudan’s Khartoum city. According to one Sudanese economist, the decline in Sudanese exports is at the heart of the problem.
The price of US dollar against the Sudanese pound rose to 11 SDG and 50 piasters in the parallel market in the capital Khartoum on Monday. The price of Saudi riyal also rose to 3 SDG pounds and 10 piasters with the possibility of further increase.
Sidiq Kabello, a member of the central committee in the Sudanese Communist Party and an economist attributed the problem to declining production. In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Kabello blamed the Khartoum government for destroying the Gezira agricultural scheme, textile industry, railway and other projects.
He also pointed to the decline in oil and gold exports, saying Sudanese exports cannot cover up the gap. Kabello added that exports in the first half of 2014 were 2 billion and 439 million dollars, but decreased in the second half to one billion and 790 million dollars, according to a government report.
The communist party member accused the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) of destroying the production and productivity since it came to power. He noted that oil exports have also dropped.
Kabello indicated that agricultural exports increased from 921 million to more than one billion. He explained that exports are the main source of foreign currencies. The economist ruled out any attempts for economic reform under the current government, while predicting inevitable risk of hunger across Sudan.
“A solution under this government is impossible, unless there is a new transitional government because this government squanders money in war and about 3,226 constitutional post holders, so it is impossible to solve the crisis,” he said. He urged all activists and media to expose the risk of hunger to the international community in order to provide urgent aid assistance before the humanitarian situation worsens further.