President declares job freeze for state companies

Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir on Tuesday declared a job and wage freeze within the government and for state-owned companies, in an effort to introduce new economic reforms. Muhammad Dirdeiry, spokesman for Sudanese Embassy in Nairobi, told IRIN that the government wanted to eventually privatise a number of state institutions, including the post office, Sudan Air, the railways, and electricity. The freeze on government jobs and wages was announced to “lay the ground” for privatisation, he said.

The presidential decree orders all ministers not to approve new appointments and promotions in state-owned companies and corporations, news agencies said. It came a day after Finance Minister Abd al-Rahim Hamdi announced he was going to carry out sweeping privatisations of state enterprises and economic reforms.
Official sources told IRIN that Sudan had made an “important economic leap” despite being isolated by international financial institutions over the last decade, including oil exploitation and privatisation of the telecommunications sector. Sudan had continued to pay about debts of about US $60 million per annum. Recent talks with the International Monetary Fund had been successful, and Sudan anticipated resuming full membership, Dirdiery said.