Imminent Activation of Yemeni Outward Transfers via Domestic Banks

An emblem of the Central Bank of Yemen is seen on the bank's gate in Sana'a August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
An emblem of the Central Bank of Yemen is seen on the bank's gate in Sana'a August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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Imminent Activation of Yemeni Outward Transfers via Domestic Banks

An emblem of the Central Bank of Yemen is seen on the bank's gate in Sana'a August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
An emblem of the Central Bank of Yemen is seen on the bank's gate in Sana'a August 24, 2016. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

Yemeni commercial banks have been informed that outward transfers will be activated soon, but they are required to meet some simple conditions, the Central Bank’s Deputy Governor Khaled al-Abbadi said.

“Most Yemeni banks are responding positively and showing willingness to comply with the conditions and to perform their role,” Abbadi told Asharq Al-Awsat. Some of the conditions are: providing necessary data such as their budget, statistics and the plan to transform their headquarters to Aden in addition to other obligations.

When asked how the support for Yemen's commercial banks would benefit Yemeni citizens, he said the Central Bank’s move would provide sufficient liquidity for the financial system. Consequently, salaries would be paid on time, in addition to witnessing an increase in imports.

Abbadi affirmed that Yemen’s account in the US Federal Reserve would receive the whole revenues. Before opening the account, there were some challenges and obstacles. The first was represented in contacting the other party (Houthi and Saleh) and second tackling all US concerns and responding to all remarks.

His statement was made after he departed from Bank of England in London, when he asserted that he seeks restoring relations between the Yemen Central Bank and the Bank of England that has contributed 53 years ago in the establishment of the first central bank in the Arabian Peninsula.

Abadi added that a work plan has been agreed upon to re-normalize the Yemeni public account in the Bank of England. It is “the biggest account in sterling and we can carry out banking operations worldwide through it.”



Heavy Rains Flood Khartoum Streets, Exposing Decomposed Bodies

A resident attempts to drain floodwaters outside home in Omdurman (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A resident attempts to drain floodwaters outside home in Omdurman (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Heavy Rains Flood Khartoum Streets, Exposing Decomposed Bodies

A resident attempts to drain floodwaters outside home in Omdurman (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A resident attempts to drain floodwaters outside home in Omdurman (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Torrential rains battered several parts of Sudan’s Khartoum state this week, flooding residential neighborhoods and streets, disrupting movement, and sweeping away war debris, including decomposed corpses believed to belong to paramilitary fighters.

The rainfall began as sanitation workers were carrying out maintenance on stormwater drains. But before completing their task, the downpour caught them off guard, forcing them to begin draining the water with basic tools already in use.

Local authorities said residents in the East Nile district reported seeing decomposed bodies swept into drainage canals. Officials suspect the corpses may be those of fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which controlled swathes of the capital during its year-long war with the Sudanese army.

The RSF had held large parts of Khartoum since conflict erupted on April 15, 2023. But by March this year, the army claimed to have regained full control of the city. Since then, thousands of displaced families have returned home, according to state authorities, with more returning each day.

This year’s rainy season arrives amid the devastation of war, which has crippled already fragile infrastructure, particularly flood drainage systems. Even before the conflict, seasonal rains often caused widespread destruction in Khartoum, damaging homes and public facilities and resulting in casualties.

Despite extensive water pooling in open areas, Sudan’s Civil Defense Authority reported no fatalities or property losses. “Water was drained naturally, without any intervention from Civil Defense teams,” said Major General Qureshi, deputy director of emergency operations, in remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Qureshi added that his teams remain on high alert, as a precaution, although Nile water levels remain stable.

Residents attempted to clear water from their homes by removing weeds and waste blocking drainage channels.

“During the RSF's control of the city, we tried to dig small trenches to divert the rainwater toward the main drains,” said resident Mohamed Elias. “But the blocked drains caused water to stagnate for months, leading to insect infestations and disease.”

Although thousands have returned to Khartoum, the national government has not fully re-established itself in the capital, which it fled in favor of Port Sudan, a Red Sea city now serving as a temporary seat of power. Khartoum’s governor, Ahmed Othman, previously told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government’s return to the capital would be gradual.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said over one million displaced Sudanese have returned to their areas of origin across the country, including in Khartoum.