Sudan vows to bring down inflation as war fuels hardships

Sudan has pledged to lower its inflation rate below 60 percent by the end of 2026, as the country grapples with the devastating effects of a three-year civil war. Prior to the conflict between the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, Sudan had been plagued by triple-digit inflation rates. The war has exacerbated the already fragile economy, with the US-Iran conflict contributing to soaring global energy prices.

Speaking at a UNDP meeting, Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim stated that "we aim to reduce inflation to no more than 60 percent by the end of 2026", claiming that this goal is attainable based on current indicators.

Inflation reached 99 percent in 2025, up from a peak of 176 percent in 2024, according to Ibrahim. The exchange rate for the Sudanese pound surged past 8,000 to the dollar, 16 times the pre-war rate. This month, rare protests erupted in Gedaref state over rising prices. Sudan's citizens, already facing the world's largest hunger and displacement crises, are struggling to make ends meet, even in areas away from the fighting.

Samia Mohammed, a former factory worker in Khartoum, shared her experience: "Before the war, my salary and that of my husband—who works for a government agency—were enough for us." However, after losing her job and witnessing skyrocketing prices, she now has to rely on a single salary, which is insufficient to cover even half the month.

Khartoum grocer Ibrahim Mohammad Ahmed echoed this sentiment, noting that "prices change daily based on the dollar rate", leaving people with very little and forcing many to forgo essential items.

The war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced millions, and collapsed the economy. According to the Sudan Teachers' Committee, a small family requires $600 per month to meet their needs. In contrast, teachers earn a monthly salary of around $19.