The civil administration backed by the Rapid Support Forces in areas under its control has taken concrete steps towards establishing a new banking system in Darfur, in a move aimed at restoring basic financial services after the collapse of the traditional banking sector.
The initiative begins with the creation of an institution known as “Future Bank”, which is expected to operate initially in East Darfur. Mohammed Idris Khater, head of the civil administration in the state, said he met in Al-Daein with a committee tasked with building a viable banking framework for RSF-controlled areas.
According to Khater, the delegation presented a detailed plan to open a branch in the state capital and explained how the bank would function under current conditions. He said the project reflects a practical response to the realities on the ground, where residents and traders have been cut off from formal financial services for months.
Speaking in an interview broadcast by state radio and reported by media, Khater said the proposed banking system would rely on electronic money exchange services, reducing dependence on cash and improving security for civilians and businesses. He described this approach as modern, flexible and better suited to regions affected by conflict.
Khater added that the initiative seeks to address the severe cash liquidity crisis affecting Darfur and Kordofan, portraying the project as a necessary and forward-looking solution to long-standing economic challenges that have been exacerbated by war and institutional collapse.
While details regarding the bank’s structure, capital and ownership have yet to be announced, officials indicated that further information would be released as preparations advance.
In May 2025, an economic conference organised by the RSF-backed civil administration in Nyala recommended the establishment of an alternative banking system in areas under RSF control. Participants argued that such steps are essential to revitalise local economic activity, support livelihoods and provide stability for communities abandoned by the conventional banking system in western Sudan.
