Sudan: difficult to celebrate Eid amid galloping inflation
Audio 01:18
A Sudanese man stands with a sheep in the cattle market as Sudanese celebrate Eid al-Adha, July 19, 2021. © Abdulmonam Eassa / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
In Sudan, the price of daily products has increased by more than 400% in one year, according to government figures.
The inflation rate is getting worse every month and the Sudanese take a dim view of the series of austerity reforms put in place by the transitional authorities to get into the nails set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF ).
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With our correspondent in Khartoum,
Eliott Brachet
After 30 years of mismanagement and American sanctions under the reign of Omar al-Bashir, overthrown in April 2019, Sudan is still plunged into a deep economic crisis that the government has promised to stem.
On the eve of Eid al Kabir, the Sudanese are exasperated.
A few hours before Eid, it is the crowd in the souk of Omdurman.
Ahmed Abdallah made his last purchases, before celebrating this holiday with the family.
He has just bought a sheep, but has never paid so much: “
The prices have exploded, it's crazy.
This sheep cost me more than 100 euros.
Before, it was four times cheaper.
What has increased is fodder for animals.
Then there is the price of gasoline which makes transporting livestock extremely expensive.
The economic situation is really difficult.
"
In recent months, the removal of fuel subsidies as well as the introduction of a floating exchange rate have caused daily prices to skyrocket.
Zubeida Mohammed is loaded with bags of vegetables.
For this mother of 4 children, household expenses have become exorbitant: “
First there is electricity, but also water.
You pay 1000 Sudanese pounds of electricity and it doesn't last you a week!
There are people who live outside in the rain.
The money that has been promised by foreign countries does not get here.
I'm disapointed.
The only thing that makes me happy are my kids at home.
Compared to previous years, Eid looks really different
”.
The reforms supported by the IMF to reduce the country's debt have aroused the discontent of the population.
Demonstrations are frequent against the deterioration of everyday life.
The government calls on citizens to be patient.
Friday, July 16, some twenty creditor countries of Sudan, united in the Paris Club, announced that they were largely erasing the slate of Sudan to allow its return on the international scene.
Read also: Why the Sudanese economy is at bay
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Sudan
Economy