January 11 - 2021 KHARTOUM
Acting Finance Minister Heba Mohamed (Social media)
The Economic Committee of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) has warned that the 2021 National Budget approved by the Council of Ministers last week will lead to an economic collapse of the country.
In an interview with Radio Dabanga, professor Mohamed Sheikhoun, member of the FFC Economic Committee, accused acting Finance Minister Heba Mohamed of presenting incorrect information about the 2021 education budget. The 2021 budget was approved by the Council of Ministers last week.
“The education budget is much smaller than the budget reserved for defence,” professor Sheikhoun he said. “The 2021 defence budget amounts to SDG 89.82 billion, which is an increase of 173 per cent compared to last year [not taking into account inflation], while education will have a budget of 16.2 billion, an increase of only nine per cent.”
January 8 - 2021 KHARTOUM
Finance Minister, Heba Mohamed, and US EXIM bank President, Kimberly Reed, hold up signed MoU between Sudan and US on January 7 (Social media)
The Sudanese Ministry of Finance and
the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a loan of $1 billion yesterday.
Finance Minister, Heba Mohamed, said in a joint press conference that the visit of the EXIM delegates will cement partnerships and strengthen economic relations between Sudan and the US.
The loan will be used for the development of vital economic sectors, most notably infrastructure, energy, water, agriculture, aviation, said Mohamed, who expects this to be the starting point for major corporate American investment in Sudan.
January 8 - 2021 KHARTOUM
Cabinet meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by PM Abdallah Hamdok (File photo)
Yesterday, the Council of Ministers, headed by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, approved the 2021 budget, with a total deficit of 1.4 per cent, and a reduction in government spending by 24 per cent.
The Finance Ministry will submit the 2021 budget at a joint meeting of the Sovereign Council and the Council of Ministers on January 10 “for final approval”.
Information Minister and Government Spokesperson Feisal Mohamed Saleh explained in a press conference that the budget has been subjected to many adjustments, after receiving comments from many parties, including the Economic Committee of the Forces for Freedom and Change and the parties to the peace process.
January 7 - 2021 KHARTOUM
The Sudanese Ministry of Finance and the US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Khartoum this morning to liquidate Sudan’s arrears to the World Bank and enable Sudan to obtain more than $1 billion (Picture: US Embassy, Khartoum)
The Sudanese Ministry of Finance and the US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Khartoum yesterday morning to liquidate Sudan’s arrears to the World Bank and enable Sudan to obtain more than $1 billion. Secretary Mnuchin was paying a one-day visit to Sudan to discuss settling Sudan’s debt to the World Bank, the economic situation, financial transparency, and normalisation of ties with Israel.
December 19 - 2020 EL FASHER
Sudanese Red Crescent Society distribute essential household items to 1,500 vulnerable families in Jebel Marra in 2017 (ICRC)
The North Darfur branch of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society began distributing food provided by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday to more than 5,000 poor families in the state capital of El Fasher.
The director of the Red Crescent Society in North Darfur, Abdelrasoul Abdallah, said in a press statement that the programme targets more than 5,000 families, equivalent to 28,000 people, and 43 beggar families in the town.
The society will continue to distribute food provided by the WFP to the residents of Kasab and Fata Borno camps for the displaced and those affected by insecurity in Kutum, the people living in the Selek camp near El Fasher, the Rwanda, Borgo, and Dali camps, the 2014 group of displaced from Debbat Nayra in Tawila, the Shangil Tobaya and Shaddad camps in Dar El Salam locality, a