Sudan’s central bank has announced the withdrawal of all older versions of the 500-Sudanese-pound banknote from circulation across the country as it moves to replace them with newer notes.
The latest phase will extend the replacement process to Kordofan and Darfur, which were not covered during the first two rounds of the currency exchange programme.
Holders of the old 500-pound notes will be able to exchange them at face value from October 1 until the close of business on December 31, 2026.
In Kordofan and Darfur, the exchange will be carried out exclusively by depositing the affected banknotes into accounts at branches of commercial banks operating in the two regions.
The central bank said that from January 1, 2027, the withdrawn 500-pound notes will cease to be legal tender anywhere in Sudan and will no longer be valid for settling financial obligations.
The move follows earlier replacement operations involving old 500- and 1,000-pound banknotes in Khartoum, Gezira and parts of White Nile state.
The currency replacement programme has been complicated by Sudan’s war and the fragmentation of the country’s banking system, with older banknotes remaining in circulation for longer in parts of Darfur and Kordofan than in areas under the control of the army-aligned Port Sudan authorities.
