The Central Bank of Sudan has issued a new 50-pound circulating banknote in response to a rise in counterfeit currency in the country.
Inflation in Sudan has been growing, and was recorded at 57.7% in April this year. The spread of counterfeit banknotes has been cited as the cause in an increase in liquidity, pushing up prices for Sudan’s citizens. The cost of food has reportedly been rising in Sudan, and the country is experiencing an ongoing fuel shortage.
According to a report by Reuters, whilst prices are rising, the value of the Sudanese pound has fallen on the black market, despite government measures to control spending and tighten liquidity.
During the rollout of these measures, a high number of counterfeit 50-pound Sudanese banknotes were found in circulation. As such, the Central Bank has issued a new 50-pound denomination with a new design. The old version, first circulated in 2011, will be withdrawn but the Bank has yet to confirm the date of when this will take place.
The security features included in the design of the new banknote are similar to the previous 50-pound banknote including a holographic foil stripe shown on the front of the note and a metallised this windowed security thread on the reverse. However, new illustrations are displayed on the front and back of the banknote, and the colour scheme has changed from a blue and green theme to a predominantly pink and blue one. Images to confirm this are yet to be displayed on the Central Bank of Sudan website but can be seen at the MRI Bankers’ Guide website (3rd party site).
