Sudan inflation hits all-time high 52.4% in January

Inflation has hit troubled Sudan, getting to all-time high of 52.4 percent in January, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) disclosed.

Karam Allah Abdul Rahan, CBS chairman said in Khartoum that the figure was the highest in more than a decade.

Raham said further that the January inflation was double the 25.2 registered in December 2017.

“This increase is attributable to the austerity measures implemented by the government last month,” he explained.

Inflation in Sudan has been on the rise since the country lost more than 70 percent of its oil revenues due to the secession of South Sudan in 2011.

The country has witnessed sporadic demonstrations since January, against higher commodity prices occasioned by the government removing subsidies on wheat, electricity and medicines.

Food prices go up marginally
Sudan earlier this month devalued its currency to exchange at 30 pounds per $1. It was the second devaluation in the recent months.

The Sudanese opposition parties have continuously called for protests to overthrow President Omar al-Bashir, accusing him of poor governance and economic mismanagement.

In 2016, Sudan witnessed nationwide civil protests against the lifting of subsides on oil products and electricity.

Human rights organisations have recorded hundreds of people killed in the protests against the high cost of living.

The 74-year-old Bashir rose to power in a coup in 1989 and has ruled what was until 2011 Africa’s largest country with an iron fist.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a warrant of arrest against him for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in Darfur.