Money and the black market in Sudan (North)
 

See:

Sudan may get much needed economic help from Qatar - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

I hope to be in Sudan in a couple of weeks. What's the current situation on the ground with regards to bank and blackmarket exchange rates and changing Euros/USD?

This article says USD exchange rate has fallen from 5 to 4.2:

Sudan Vision Daily - Details

Just finished travelling in Sudan last Friday. The official exchange rate, the one you get in banks and with Western Union is US$1 to SD Pound 2.7
On the black market you get easily US$1 to SD Pound 4.7, with looking around a bit more even 5.0.

Just left Sudan a couple of weeks ago and the rate on the street was approaching 6#s to $1. I was in Khartoum for a week - at the beginning, I was getting 5/1 on the streets and by the time I left it was 5.5/1. They are craving US $ right now.

Don't go to the banks.

Yes, in Feb it was 4.7 to one dollar, when I left in April it was 5.7 to one dollar...

Dont change at banks, you only get 2.6.

Make friends with somebody and as +discreetly+ where you can change dollars or euros....

In Kassala there was a shop in the souk who did it quickly and for a good rate.

In Suakin people ask you if you park near the shops in the newer part of town, I didn't ask their rates.

In Dongola, people will do it in the souk also... ask carefully when you get chatting to somebody helpful....

In Khartoum, many people will do so at varying rates. Private message me and I will tell you where I did it with no problems and a good rate.

If you get caught by the police they will take all of your cash on you, maybe even more punishment.... be careful!!!

But there were a few open places that would do it, obviously paying off the police etc.

Sudan is quite expensive, so if you don;t change on the black market then it is going to be very expensive! Jowasat registration is now about 200 Sudanese pounds - thats $74 at the official rate - less than half if you use the bm.

Good luck!

Hotels payable in foreign currency only
 

Surprise surprise. As per a new directive issued by the Central Bank of the Republic of the Sudan on 15 March 2012, all hotel bills for foreigners are to be paid exclusively in foreign currency. :innocent:

I saw that being mentioned when I was there in the local media, but it hadn't come into affect, at least not where I stayed in Khartoum and Dongola...

Is it just being talked about or actual law....? Might just be the upmarket places?

Rate was 5.75 yesterday

Of course they prefer that you pay in US $, but we had no problems paying in local currency, which was changed in the streets.

Because of the USD black market rate we only payed 80 USD for Ferry Wadi Halfa to Aswan 1 person + Motorbike.