Sudan

Investment & 
Operational
Climate

After many months of popular protests, the 30-year regime of Omar Bashir came to an end in April 2019. A civilian-led transitional government (CLTG) took power in September 2019, with a mandate to establish political institutions and hold elections within 39 months. Severe economic problems, namely rising bread and fuel prices, drove the 2018-19 protests. These problems persist, partially due to infrastructure and transport deficiencies but also due to decades of mismanagement, corruption, and economic practices of the former regime. Although the lifting of the economic sanctions regime in late 2017 allowed international banks to offer services that were restricted for years due to the embargo, financial institutions have maintained a guarded approach in engaging with Sudan. Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism (SST) is one reason financial institutions do not provide services even though the United States no longer prohibits private companies from doing business in Sudan. This has hampered the ability to conduct international money transfers and payments through banking institutions. Consequently, banking, financial, and transaction services are often expensive and time consuming for the public and private sectors due to a need to find alternative means to make payments.