News: Sudan plunged into chaos: desolation and economic collapse
Since the start of the war in Sudan, the consequences have been disastrous. In addition to human losses estimated at thousands of victims and millions of displaced people, the country’s economy is gradually collapsing. According to forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sudan’s GDP is expected to contract by 18% this year, which is alarming for a country already in great economic difficulty.
Since April 15, the date of the start of clashes between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (FSR) of General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, Sudan has been plunged into chaos. Infrastructure is destroyed and access to basic services is compromised, leading many residents to seek to leave the country.
One of the most affected sectors is agriculture, which represents almost 40% of GDP and 80% of jobs in Sudan. Unfortunately, this vital sector is also prey to destruction, notably with the partial loss of control of the Gezira agricultural megaproject by the authorities, to the benefit of the paramilitaries.
Furthermore, the sale of gold, the country’s main source of income, has also been stopped, which further aggravates the economic situation.
Alongside these alarming realities, the banking system is in full collapse. Salaries have not been paid for months, which plunges many Sudanese into great precariousness. The Sudanese pound, for its part, has lost almost half its value since the start of the war.
The consequences of this conflict are likely to be long-lasting and the reconstruction of the country could take years, warns the IMF. Additionally, the weakening of the Sudanese economy could also have a negative impact on neighboring countries and North Africa as a whole.
Faced with this devastating reality, it is urgent to provide humanitarian and economic aid to Sudan to enable the country to recover from this destructive conflict. The stability of the region depends on it and it is essential to support reconstruction efforts to enable a lasting economic recovery.