By\  Mustafa
Abdelhaleem Mahmoud

Sudanese Diplomat

Sudan’s participation
in the 51st Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, held
in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 16 to 19 June 2026, carried significance far beyond
routine attendance at an international financial forum. The Sudanese delegation, led by the State
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mohamed Nour Abdel-Daim, and
accompanied by the Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan, Amna Mirghani Al-Tom,
entered the meetings with a clear agenda focused on mobilizing political,
financial, and development support for recovery, reconstruction, and economic
stabilization.

A central focus of the delegation’s engagements
was Sudan’s outstanding debt obligations, particularly those owed to the
Islamic Development Bank Group. During meetings with IsDB President Mohammad
Al-Jasser and senior officials, discussions addressed potential arrangements
for debt restructuring and the clearance of arrears, with the aim of restoring
Sudan’s access to concessional financing and development resources. Both sides
recognized that addressing the debt burden is an important prerequisite for
expanding investment, scaling up development assistance, and enhancing the role
of international financial institutions in supporting Sudan’s recovery

Simultaneously, the Sudanese delegation provided a
comprehensive assessment of the extensive destruction caused by the RSF
terrorist militia, highlighting severe damage to hospitals, schools, water
networks, energy infrastructure, and key productive sectors, particularly
agriculture. The delegation emphasized that reconstruction has become an urgent
national priority rather than a long-term objective, especially as hundreds of
thousands of displaced citizens are returning to recovered areas, including the
capital, Khartoum. In this context, Sudan called for enhanced support from the
IsDB Group and other development partners to help restore essential services,
rehabilitate critical infrastructure, and accelerate economic recovery efforts.

The meetings also highlighted Sudan’s efforts to strengthen cooperation
with regional and international development partners, including discussions
with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on resuming
agricultural support programs and addressing outstanding financial obligations.
Bilateral meetings with the finance ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Algeria,
and Somalia further reflected growing political and economic engagement, with a
focus on debt solutions, development financing, and support for reconstruction
and economic recovery in Sudan.

The meetings also provided an opportunity to advance discussions on a
number of strategic development initiatives aimed at strengthening Sudan’s
economic governance and diversifying sources of national revenue. In this
context, Sudan requested support from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to
undertake a feasibility study for the development of a national halal industry,
building on the country’s significant agricultural and livestock resources. The
Bank approved support for the study and the establishment of the initiative,
recognizing its potential contribution to export growth, value addition, and
economic diversification.

The Sudanese delegation also discussed technical assistance for ongoing
Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms, particularly the development of a
Treasury Single Account (TSA) system. The proposed support, expected to amount
to approximately US$300,000, aims to strengthen cash management, improve fiscal
discipline, and enhance transparency and efficiency in public financial
operations. In addition, discussions addressed the possibility of redirecting
an existing approved grant valued at US$63 million toward Sudan’s most pressing
development priorities. The proposed reallocation seeks to ensure that
available resources are aligned with urgent recovery and reconstruction needs
arising from the current circumstances, thereby maximizing the developmental
impact of ongoing IsDB support.

Among the key outcomes of the meetings was the mobilization of a US$7
million (USD 7,000,000) humanitarian grant through the IsDB and its development
partners. The grant will support war-affected communities across Sudan through
interventions in healthcare, water and sanitation services, and emergency
shelter. Secured on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings, this achievement
reflects efforts to translate diplomatic engagement into practical support for
urgent humanitarian needs

Ultimately, Sudan’s participation in the IsDB Annual Meetings reflected
a pragmatic drive to mobilize international support at a critical juncture.
Despite persistent challenges, the discussions in Baku and the commitments
achieved represent concrete progress toward debt relief efforts, service
restoration, and the foundations of economic recovery.