Sudan has experienced seismic changes in 2019. The fall of former president Omar al Bashir’s regime and the emergence of a new transitional government in August, has raised expectations that Sudan can break with the past to become more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous. But the new transitional government faces enormous challenges, among the most urgent being, an economy in crisis and at risk of collapse as well as a much-needed long-term structural reform agenda.
Sudan’s economy has been in decline for many years and deteriorated further after losing 75 per cent of its oil revenues with the secession of South Sudan in 2011. Improvements in Sudan’s foreign relations led to the lifting of US sanctions in 2017 and this was expected to foster recovery but significant debt, a widening trade deficit, eroded foreign reserves, a devalued currency and soaring inflation worsened.
In 2019, the Chatham House Africa Programme convened a series of Sudan Stakeholder Dialogues. These roundtables fostered constructive exchanges among diverse Sudanese and international experts on the causes of the economic crisis, the steps that need to be taken to stabilize the economy in the near-term and the longer-term structural reforms required to set Sudan on the path to recovery.
As the new government, led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, undertakes the design and implementation of reform programmes, this conference discusses the durable solutions to Sudan’s pressing challenges.
Please note the video on this page is only of the keynote address. This conference is supported by Humanity United.
