Sudan Central Bank Loosens Currency Rules As Pound Slides

Khartoum, August 25, 2026 - Sudan's central bank gave commercial banks wider authority to set exchange rates and buy export proceeds, seeking to stabilize a sharply weakening pound and bring foreign-exchange trading closer to market conditions.

The regulator said banks may adjust their published exchange rates at any time during the day, provided updated prices are displayed before transactions are executed. Commercial lenders are also allowed to purchase export earnings at posted rates based on supply and demand.

The directive revokes earlier restrictions, including a January 14 circular amending 2022 currency regulations and two circulars issued earlier in August on foreign-exchange market stability. If a bank declines to buy offered export proceeds, it must coordinate with the central bank's financial markets directorate to complete the transaction and ensure timely settlement.

The measures take immediate effect across bank branches. The Gold Exporters Chamber welcomed the shift, saying business groups had pressed authorities to remove the previous curbs.

For investors, the move points to growing pressure on Sudan's macroeconomic framework as war, hard-currency shortages, and parallel-market volatility strain trade and banking. A more flexible exchange-rate regime could improve formal market liquidity, but it also underscores continuing currency and convertibility risks.