Digital Transformation in a Time of War: How the Sudanese Ministry of Communications Is Reshaping the Economy and Advancing Financial Inclusion
By Asaad Rajab
Introduction
In a country experiencing one of the most violent wars in its modern history, the Sudanese economy is undergoing unprecedented shocks: supply chain collapse, destruction of infrastructure, paralysis of the banking system, and recurring disruptions in telecommunications and electricity. Yet amid this wreckage, another trajectory emerges—one moving in the opposite direction: the digital transformation led by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation, which today constitutes one of the most critical lines of defense preserving what remains of the economy’s ability to function, especially in the area of financial inclusion.
This trajectory did not begin with the war, but over the past months it has endured the harshest real-world test—and its impact has become clearly visible through tangible experiences on the ground, the most notable being the role of the Bankak application during the first months of the conflict.
1. The Ministry of Communications: A Vision for Transformation Amid the Rubble of War
Before the war erupted, the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation had already declared its clear commitment to advancing Sudan’s digitalization process and participating in regional and Arab initiatives aimed at building an integrated digital economy. The Minister affirmed in multiple regional forums Sudan’s dedication to supporting digital transformation programs and adopting modern applications to serve economic and social development.
Practical initiatives were launched, such as the 3×3 Digital Transformation Plan, which included an economic track built around:
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a unified digital window for gold exports,
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a single portal for imports and exports through seaports,
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and dedicated platforms for agricultural and livestock exports.
These initiatives aimed to link foreign trade to a transparent digital system that reduces corruption and increases efficiency.
This vision positioned the Ministry not merely as a technical actor but as an economic one—because every step toward digitalization means:
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reducing dependence on cash,
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increasing transparency in financial flows,
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and enabling citizens to access financial and service platforms without intermediaries.
These outcomes became exponentially more valuable after the war began.
2. A Fragile Cash Economy and Low Financial Inclusion
Before the war, Sudan was overwhelmingly a cash-based society. Daily transactions depended on physical cash, while the use of banking and digital services remained relatively limited compared with other regional and sub-Saharan African countries. Studies on financial inclusion in Sudan indicate that access to financial services ranked among the lowest in Africa, due to structural weaknesses in the banking sector, the dominance of the informal economy, and gaps in telecommunications infrastructure.
Nevertheless, the government took early steps toward integrating into the digital economy, including Sudan’s 2020 accession to the UN-based Better Than Cash Alliance, aimed at accelerating the transition from printed money to digital payments and enhancing financial inclusion, transparency, and economic resilience.
This background explains why digital transformation was not a luxury, but a structural necessity long delayed—only for the war to expose its importance more starkly than ever.
3. War as a Stress Test for Sudan’s Digital Infrastructure
When fighting erupted in April 2023, telecommunications and internet networks came under repeated attacks. The year 2023 became one of the worst years globally in terms of digital access in Sudan, marked by constant internet shutdowns, communication restrictions, and disruptions that directly affected citizens’ ability to communicate and access services.
In February 2024, long outages in mobile networks cut millions of Sudanese off from essential services, forcing many to seek alternative solutions such as satellite-based communication (Starlink) just to buy food or contact family members. Amid this chaos, media reports noted that network disruptions prevented citizens from using banking apps like Bankak for payments and transfers at a time when physical cash had become scarce.
In other words: every minute of network outage translated into complete economic paralysis for entire regions of the country.
4. “Bankak” as a Case Study — How It Saved Daily Economic Life During the First Months of War
Within this turbulent context, the Bankak application—the mobile banking platform of Bank of Khartoum—emerged as a genuine digital lifeline for everyday economic activity.
With cash circulation collapsing due to severe liquidity shortages, and with bank branches inaccessible because of the fighting, financial transactions increasingly relied on electronic transfers via the app.
A report by the CALP Network on humanitarian response in Sudan stated clearly that since April 15, 2023, financial operations became heavily dependent on Bankak for money transfers and payments, alongside airtime-based transfers provided by telecom companies.
Field reports published by The New Humanitarian described banking apps in Sudan as having transformed into a “digital safety net” for millions during the early months of the war, enabling people to buy food and essential goods amid widespread displacement and the collapse of the formal banking system.
International news reports also highlighted that many citizens had no means to buy food or pay for services because they lacked sufficient cash and relied entirely on Bankak. Any disruption to the network or the app immediately translated into acute hardship.
The Bankak experience demonstrated a critical lesson:
Digital transformation is not a technological luxury — it is essential infrastructure, equal in importance to electricity, water, and roads, especially during war and crises.
5. Strategic Implications for the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation
What unfolded during the war presents the Ministry and the country’s economic institutions with several foundational messages:
1. Strengthening the resilience of digital infrastructure
Investment is essential in communication networks that can operate during emergencies, with alternative energy sources and geographically diversified nodes to reduce the risk of nationwide outages.
2. Expanding digital financial inclusion
While Bankak has proven indispensable for those with access to smartphones, millions remain excluded. Broader solutions are needed—such as mobile money wallets, banking agents, and USSD-based payment systems—supplemented with strong regulation to protect users and prevent exploitation.
3. Integrating digital transformation with trade and production policies
Initiatives such as the unified gold export window and the digital trade portal can become powerful tools to combat smuggling, increase revenue, and improve the business environment—if linked to secure, transparent digital payment systems.
4. Protecting citizens’ digital rights
Digital transformation cannot be separated from ensuring users’ rights to internet access and data integrity, nor from preventing shutdowns from being used as a form of collective punishment—because such actions cripple the economy before they affect any adversary.
