Sudan Govt Reverses Decision to Raise Price of Cooking Gas

Sudan Govt Reverses Decision to Raise Price of Cooking Gas

The Sudanese government reversed on Sunday a decision to raise the price of cooking gas only a few hours after announcing the hike.

In a statement reported by Sudan’s official news agency SUNA, the Ministry of Energy and Oil announced a new rise in cooking gas prices for the second time this month.

However, it announced it was reversing the decision later that day, in line with directives issued by the Transitional Sovereign Council and the Finance Ministry.

The transitional government had launched in 2020 tough economic reforms backed by the World Bank.

They include lifting subsidies on fuel, canceling the customs dollar exchange rate and increasing the cost of electricity, but it kept a reasonable gas subsidy, Sudan Tribune reported.

Regular protests have rocked the northeast African country since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a military takeover in October, sparking international condemnation.

The move derailed a transition painstakingly negotiated between military and civilian leaders following the 2019 ouster of president Omar al-Bashir.