Sudan’s central bank has restored the country’s national electronic payment switch after more than three years of disruption caused by the war, marking a significant step toward rebuilding the country’s damaged financial system.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated Sudan’s banking sector, with branches looted or destroyed and electronic services including ATMs and interbank transfers severely disrupted.
First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Sudan Al-Muatasim Abdullah Ahmed formally launched the restored system alongside officials from Electronic Banking Services (EBS), the central bank’s technical services arm.
Omdurman National Bank became the first lender to reconnect to the national switch, successfully completing a test cash withdrawal through an ATM.
The central bank said other operational banks would be connected to the system gradually.
Officials described the national switch as a sovereign financial platform designed to enable transfers between banks, facilitate retail payments including electricity purchases and support the restoration of point-of-sale services across Sudan.
EBS General Manager Saif Al-Din Hassan Barri said technical teams would continue coordinating with banks to expand connectivity and develop an integrated nationwide digital payments network.
The restoration of electronic banking services could help revive commercial activity, ease financial transactions linked to humanitarian assistance and improve access to banking services following years of economic disruption caused by the conflict.
