Sudanese protesters closed the Osman Digna port in the city of Suakin on Monday in protest against the failure to receive their wages due to a lack of cash liquidity.
Sudanese areas under General al-Burhan’s SAF control are currently grappling with a severe cash shortage following the recent currency exchange ordered by the army-controlled government.
Citizens were surprised to find that the new denominations were unavailable.
A union source at Sudanese ports revealed that hundreds of workers involved in loading and unloading at the Osman Digna port had blocked access to the port, demanding their wages be paid in cash, as they were accustomed to. This came after the army-controlled government insisted on paying them digitally rather than in physical cash. The source added that many of the workers do not have bank accounts, and most do not even have identification documents necessary to open such accounts.
The situation is similar for workers at the Port Sudan port on the Red Sea, with expectations of further protests there.
The Central Bank of Sudan had required the exchange of old currency for new, with each individual needing to open a bank account to deposit their exchanged funds.
However, the bank allows only 50,000 Sudanese pounds (less than $20) to be withdrawn per day, contributing to the liquidity crisis.
The Sudanese cabinet recently announced new regulations on receiving cash payments, banning all governmental bodies, public and private institutions, from accepting cash transactions. Payments must now be made through digital or bank transfers approved by the Central Bank.
Earlier, Sudanese authorities, based in Port Sudan, had implemented the currency change only in areas controlled by the SAF.
Meanwhile, areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have faced disruptions in banking services, with officials in those regions claiming that the new currency notes would be deemed invalid.
The RSF rejected the currency exchange process, imposing a ban on the use of the new currency in their controlled areas and declaring the old currency still valid there.
They also suggested that the currency swap is part of a broader conspiracy aimed at dividing the country, orchestrated by influential figures within the Islamic Movement, Sudanese arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, in coordination with external parties.
The currency replacement process in SAF-controlled areas has led to confusion in banks, which have seen overcrowding due to a shortage of service windows. Additionally, the withdrawal restrictions imposed by the central bank have exacerbated the cash liquidity crisis in the markets.
