Khartoum: President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC), General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, addressed the First Economic Conference to Confront the Challenges of War, emphasizing the need for a strategic pause to address the economic and social toll of nearly two years of conflict. He highlighted the responsibility of experts to tackle current challenges and seize limited opportunities to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, citing atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. Al-Burhan stressed the importance of the conference in producing actionable recommendations to support the upcoming budget and ease the populace’s burdens.
According to Sudan News Agency, the TSC President expressed gratitude to government units operating under challenging conditions and commended the private sector’s efforts to revitalize the economy. He acknowledged the support from Sudan’s allies and friendly nations, while condemning slackers and asserting that the militia would ultimately be era
dicated. Al-Burhan also praised Russia’s supportive stance towards Sudan and criticized a recent Security Council resolution for failing to address the militia’s actions adequately.
Al-Burhan declared Sudan’s sovereignty, rejecting external solutions to its issues and advocating for internal resolutions. He emphasized the need for the withdrawal of militia forces from El-Fashir and the lifting of road blockades before any ceasefire discussions. He called on political forces to unify in support of the armed forces and rejected premature political actions by the National Congress, prioritizing security over political reconciliation until the conflict concludes.
Finance and Economic Planning Minister Dr. Gebriel Ibrahim highlighted the war’s impact on the ministry, necessitating exceptional measures. He underscored the conference’s role in evaluating current policies through transparent dialogue to promote national interests. Ibrahim pointed to the strength of Sudan’s rural economy as a stabilizing factor and
outlined preparations for the upcoming winter agricultural season to boost revenue. He pledged full payment of state employees’ entitlements in the 2025 budget and emphasized the importance of implementing financial federalism.
Ibrahim presented an economic vision for post-war reconstruction, drawing on experiences from similar countries. This vision aims to be an international document outlining Sudan’s recovery strategy. He affirmed his commitment to the conference’s outcomes and their implementation.
Central Bank of Sudan Governor Burai Siddiq Ali detailed the conference’s focus on realistic solutions for economic recovery. He outlined the bank’s comprehensive strategy for stabilizing the exchange rate, restoring payment systems, and managing government borrowing. Siddiq Ali noted efforts to address financial conditions of banks and announced the design of a new currency to counter counterfeit issues, developed in coordination with state authorities.
The conference featured extensive participation from
federal and state institutions, the private sector, academics, diplomatic representatives, and United Nations organizations.