The Impact of War on the Sudanese Economy: Challenges to Sustainable Development by Professor Hassa

03:11 AM September, 22 2024

Sudanese Online
حسن بشير محمد نور-Sudan
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Professor Hassan Bashir Mohamed Nour


The ongoing conflicts in Sudan, which deepened after the ongoing April 2023 war, have struck the country at its core in the capital and Al-Jazira State, extending to all areas of Darfur and wide spaces in the Kordofan states, reaching the states of Sennar and Blue Nile, and areas in Gedaref State, with the situation being more critical. These conflicts have profound consequences on the country,s economic and social structure.

War, by its nature, destroys infrastructure, disrupts internal and external trade, hinders investment, and obstructs various forms of development. In Sudan, the consequences have been particularly severe, creating a rentier economy that heavily relies on extractive industries, as was the case with oil and later gold mining, in addition to agricultural crops and livestock, while significantly neglecting key sectors necessary for long-term sustainability, such as modern agricultural development and the manufacturing of value-added products for both the local market and export, along with human capital development. The persistent political and security instability has had the greatest impact in disrupting development processes and economic growth, causing Sudan to become one of the most economically backward countries in the world.
One of the main effects of war is the significant depletion of the workforce, either through displacement and the substantial disruption of private and public activates, or through recruitment into armed and mobilized factions. Conflict-affected areas suffer from mass displacement and migration, leading to a loss of talent, expertise, and potential innovation accompanying the disruption of primary and higher education and widespread unemployment on a large scale. This is compounded by brain drain, further exacerbating Sudan’s capacity to generate national sustainable solutions to economic and developmental challenges.
The war has also completely halted investment in vital infrastructure, such as transportation, energy, and healthcare, and disrupted educational processes that are crucial to enhancing economic capacity. For instance, the destruction of fragile roads and bridges, as occurred due to rains and floods that swept across vast areas of the country, has disrupted internal trade and isolated rural communities from local markets, leading to a chokehold on agricultural production even at the level necessary for livelihood -this sector forms the backbone of the Sudanese economy and food security in particular-. Additionally, the deterioration of educational systems and healthcare facilities further destabilizes human capital, limiting the future prospects of generations to come.

For Sudan to embark on a path of sustainable development, peace is the fundamental necessity that cannot be replaced; the longer it’s more delays, the more economic and social conditions deteriorate, and the costs may become insurmountable. Therefore, to ensure any future for the country, national and international efforts aimed at peace building and reconstruction must focus on comprehensive economic policies that promote diversification and modernization, consider balanced development principles, and ensure social justice while establishing a new system for resource management, distribution, and redistribution.
Investments in renewable energy, especially solar power and biofuel production, could offer broad horizons for accelerating post-war development while addressing the necessary energy shortages for production and productivity, creating significant job opportunities. Moreover, investment in infrastructure and real production sectors, along with enhancing the competitiveness of the national private sector, is essential. In addition, rehabilitating the agricultural sector and encouraging small enterprises will strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imports.
Overall, while the current state of war imposes significant obstacles to Sudan's recovery and tears apart the social fabric, the future of sustainable development lies in peace, good governance, and the strategic mobilization of its natural and human resources to enhance development and sustain growth. All paths toward achieving any future for sustainable development in Sudan that ensures stability and the well-being of future generations are closed, except for one path: the path of peace.

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