Ahmed Fadl-Khartoum
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday issued a new emergency order banning the storage and speculation of the national currency, as well as amendments to penalties for violating previous emergency orders.
Bashir announced the entry into force of martial law in the country since 22 February, and issued five emergency orders in the form of the Attorney-General.
The emergency order - announced by the president on Thursday - to ban speculation in national currency to damage the national economy, or stored outside the banking system for non-authorized.
Since last year, the access of Sudanese to their savings in banks has been difficult, and banks and ATMs are piling up queues for money seekers.
As a result, the Sudanese pound turned into a dollar-like commodity, the national currency had two prices, a higher check and a lower cash.
Prohibited
The sixth emergency order prohibits any person from possessing or storing a national currency exceeding one million pounds, and also prohibits any legal person from storing or possessing a national currency that is not commensurate with the size of its activity, up to a maximum of five million pounds.
An emergency order also prohibits the acquisition or storage of a national currency owned by third parties in exchange for or for the purpose of circumventing the value prohibited to store or hold under this Order.
All persons or entities authorized to provide goods and services to the public shall not be allowed to receive the payment by ATM card or bank or approved checks. Also, any person or person shall be prohibited from making any transaction for the conversion of foreign or national currency.
The order provided for the punishment of any person who violates that penalty for a term of not less than six months and not more than ten years, a fine, confiscation of funds, storage places and any means used to commit the offense.
Tighter sanctions
In a related context, President Bashir issued Emergency Order No. 7 by amending 5 emergency orders issued in February.
The emergency orders have included amendments to the sanctions, the delegation of powers, the granting of immunities, the banning of unauthorized gatherings and processions, the regulation of foreign exchange, the regulation of cash and gold exit controls through ports and crossings, the prohibition of the distribution, storage, sale and transport of hydrocarbons and subsidized goods outside official channels, Corrupt.
The amendments included the text "imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years and a fine" after the amendment "imprisonment for a period not less than six months and not more than ten years and a fine."
According to observers, the amendment of the penalties for violators of emergency orders will limit the provisions of emergency court judges to a minimum sentence of six months imprisonment.
The sentences of the emergency judges varied from one week to two weeks ago, and most of the protesters were acquitted by the Court of Appeal.
In addition, the President of the Republic on Thursday issued two Republican decrees appointing Ahmed Mohammed Harun and Sadiq Al-Hadi Al-Mahdi as his assistants.