NO FOR EXCESSIVE OPTIMISM

A wave of optimism overwhelmed the official circles immediately after the US Administration made the long-anticipated announcement of removing Sudan from the States Sponsors of Terrorism (SST).
However, Sudan has been on the list of pariahs for 27 years, and delisting has been a priority of its new government since the historic uprising of Sudanese civilians in 2019 that triggered a coup and ushered in a transitional period in which the military and civilians uneasily share power.
The announcement is a most welcome step for Sudan, and for all those around the world hoping to see Sudan’s historic political transition succeed in birthing a stable, accountable, and representative new Sudan.
No doubt there are many economic benefits, but the problem is that most of our officials overestimated the advantages of the decision as they allow for their tendency thinking to dominate the arena.
It is true that the decision put an end to two decades of sanctions which affected directly the economy in terms of difficulties in banking transactions, writing-off Sudan foreign debts, impossibility of obtaining the modern American technology besides punishing any company abroad if it entered into any businesses with Sudan.
Removing Sudan from the SST removed all the above obstacles; but as a matter of fact those obstacles were not the main cause of Sudan’s economic crisis.
The crisis simply is the gap between the exports and imports.
We believe that it would be wiser if we consider the US decision as the first step towards creating better environment for radical economic resolutions.
The weak production is the main cause of our economic crisis, besides the poor infrastructure which hinders the development projects.
Unless we increase production and productivity to upgrade the competition value of the Sudanese products, the crisis will be at a standstill.
As long as Sudan doesn’t get hard currency from its exports, lifting sanctions will mean nothing.
Efforts should be exerted to design a comprehensive economic strategy to address the roots of the economic crisis and to enforce accountability and anti-corruption act.