Sudan Industrial Body Calls for Austerity and Reallocation of Seized Assets

Khartoum, April 20, 2026 - The Secretary-General of the Federation of Sudanese Industries, Abbas Ali al-Sayyid, has called for the implementation of a strict national austerity programme and the reallocation of assets seized from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to support the recovery of Sudan’s struggling industrial sector. He said the country requires a two- to three-year austerity plan focused on reducing public spending and eliminating what he described as non-essential expenditures, including luxury government vehicles and costly foreign missions maintained on high-value foreign currency leases despite limited activity. Al-Sayyid urged authorities to confiscate RSF-linked assets within Sudan and pursue funds allegedly transferred abroad, arguing that such resources should be redirected toward industrial rehabilitation and national reconstruction. He noted that before the conflict, the RSF controlled significant real estate holdings and financial institutions. He warned that Sudan’s industrial base has been severely damaged by the ongoing war, with an estimated 70% of industrial activity currently halted. According to his assessment, around 3,493 industrial facilities have been affected, including more than 1,800 that sustained major damage and several dozen that were completely destroyed. To support recovery, he proposed long-term tax exemptions, concessional financing for factories, and the establishment of a national reconstruction fund financed through confiscated assets and revenues from anti-smuggling operations. Al-Sayyid also highlighted Sudan’s widening trade imbalance, citing central bank data showing a $3.86 billion deficit in 2025, with exports at $2.64 billion compared to imports totaling $6.49 billion. He stressed the need to reduce dependence on raw material exports and shift toward value-added manufacturing in sectors such as food processing, edible oils, and meat production. In addition, he called for the creation of an independent anti-corruption authority, reforms to integrate the informal economy into the tax system, and improved energy allocation policies, including prioritizing electricity for industrial use during daytime hours while expanding solar power for households to ease pressure on the national grid.