00:07Sudan's economic troubles are deepening.
00:10The Sudanese pound has plunged to record lows against the U.S. dollar on the parallel market,
00:14triggering sharp increases in the cost of imported goods
00:17and adding fresh uncertainty to an economy already battered by war.
00:20The currency's rapid decline is unfolding alongside a cash liquidity crisis,
00:25leaving businesses struggling to operate and consumers facing ever-rising prices.
00:33We want to reassure our brothers and all the Sudanese people
00:36that we have completely controlled the exchange rate fluctuations of the past few days.
00:41The trend is now clear to the Sudanese people and will be reflected in the economic indicators.
00:46We are working to further stabilize the situation because the uncontrolled rise in the exchange rate
00:51will affect people's livelihoods, which is a cause of concern for us.
00:56Therefore, it must be controlled.
01:01Despite these assurances, many Sudanese say the reality on the ground tells a different story.
01:06With much of the country's production disrupted by conflict and imports becoming increasingly expensive,
01:12households are paying more for food, fuel and transport, stretching already fragile incomes.
01:18Before the war, we lived in abundance and prosperity and everything was going well.
01:24But now, we live in humiliation and hardship.
01:28We don't know where the country is headed.
01:30The rise of the dollar has had a significant impact on the prices of all goods.
01:36All increases are mostly attributed to the dollar's rise.
01:40We want to live comfortably, but the dollar issue is not something we, our citizens, can control.
01:47It's a matter for the government.
01:49We're not concerned with this as citizens.
01:54Economists say the crisis reflects a combination of domestic and external pressures.
01:58Years of conflict have widened Sudan's trade deficit while reducing export earnings.
02:03Global supply chain disruptions and high energy costs have also increased import prices,
02:08adding further pressures on the Sudanese pound.
02:13The decline of the Sudanese pound against foreign currencies has several causes.
02:18One of these is the increase in imports and the decrease in exports on the one hand,
02:22and the growing trade deficit in the state's general budget on the other.
02:27Other contributing factors include the Strait of Hormuz, which is expected to see a breakthrough soon.
02:34For traders, the volatile exchange rate has made doing business increasingly difficult.
02:38Many now suspend sales while waiting to reprice imported goods,
02:42while weak consumer purchasing power leaves shops with fewer customers.
02:46As Sudan's economic crisis deepens alongside the ongoing conflict,
02:50both businesses and ordinary citizens are left hoping for greater stability,
02:53but with no clear indication of when relief may come.
02:58Commercial activity is extremely weak these days due to the lack of money among citizens.
03:03People haven't received their salaries and more than half of manual laborers are at home without work.
03:08This is the main reason for the recession,
03:10the weakness of commercial activity, and the halt in buying and selling.
03:14The commercial activity is weak.
03:17With inflation continuing to erode purchasing power,
03:20and the conflict showing little signs of ending,
03:23economists warn that restoring confidence in Sudan's currency
03:26will require not only financial reforms, but also lasting stability.
03:30to your hours.
03:31Let's pray again for both ways and per Jackson.
03:33Thank you very much for listening to Kika ha,
