22 October 2026 | Khartoum – Port Sudan
Sudan’s economic crisis has reached another alarming milestone.
According to Reuters, the Sudanese pound fell to a record low of 10,000 pounds against the US dollar in parallel-market trading on Wednesday, October 21.
The collapse comes as the continuing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces destroys productive capacity, disrupts trade and deepens civilian suffering.
The economic picture
Currency collapse: The dollar now trades at approximately 10,000 Sudanese pounds on the parallel market, compared with 8,000 previously.
Official exchange rate: The official rate remains around 4,200 pounds per dollar, illustrating the widening gap between government pricing and market conditions.
Import costs: Authorities raised the customs exchange rate to more than 5,600 pounds per dollar this week, increasing pressure on businesses dependent on imported goods.
Lost export revenue: Wartime disruption has reduced production in important foreign-currency-generating sectors, while gold smuggling continues to drain potential export earnings.
Before the war began in April 2023, the dollar traded at approximately 600 Sudanese pounds.
⚖️ Strategic Assessment
Sudan is experiencing more than a conventional currency crisis.
The destruction of infrastructure, displacement of workers, contraction of domestic production and deterioration of public institutions have created a self-reinforcing economic emergency.
When a national currency collapses during war, civilians pay twice: first through insecurity and displacement, then through the destruction of their purchasing power.
The widening difference between official and parallel exchange rates also complicates imports and encourages informal financial activity.
International diplomacy must prioritize civilian protection, humanitarian access and a political settlement capable of restoring economic activity.
Without a credible end to the fighting, monetary intervention alone is unlikely to stabilize Sudan’s economy.