SUDAN INSIGHT ALERT: al-Jareeda - Theatrical economic reform

10/6/2021: al-Jareeda - Theatrical economic reform, by Zuhair al-Siraj

Zuhair al-Siraj robustly criticises Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim’s announcement on increased fuel prices.  

Al-Siraj labels Ibrahim’s claim that Sudan is the sixth cheapest of 42 African countries for fuel prices “an outright lie,” as the comparison fails to take into account factors such as the standard of living, per capita income and minimum wages, which culminate in fuel “not constituting a burden” on citizens from wealthier countries as it would in Sudan.

With Ibrahim stating that the raising of fuel prices is part of economic reforms to facilitate engagement with international financial institutions, al-Siraj questions “what is the policy, and what plans as the government set to implement it?...Unless it is to submit to the conditions of the [IMF]  without getting anything in return”.

Al-Siraj concludes “it is naive and stupid to agree to conditions and start implementing them before you get a return”.