E-Government Is the Future of Digital Transformation in Sudan (2/2)

Dr Marwa Fouad Qabbani
E-government in Sudan is no longer a vision for the future; it is a reality taking shape through steady, deliberate steps. Although the road ahead remains long, the results achieved so far confirm that we are moving in the right direction towards genuine digital transformation, effective governance, and a modern institutional state.
First: Approved Strategies in E-Government
1. Digitisation of Government Services
The transition from paper-based procedures to unified digital systems includes electronic revenue collection, receipt issuance through accounting systems, and the integration of state entities into a single chart of accounts.
2. Integration of Government Systems
Adopting system integration across different government bodies as a core strategy for digital transformation, ensuring data unification, preventing duplication, and achieving institutional governance.
3. Custodianship of Public Funds and Financial Oversight
Linking the accounts of government units to consolidated accounts within ministries, then transferring them to the Ministry of Finance’s account at the Central Bank, under the supervision of the National Audit Chamber—thereby enhancing transparency and accountability.
4. Unified Digital Platforms
Launching national platforms, such as “Baladna,” to serve as a comprehensive gateway for government services, incorporating interconnected sectoral systems that connect citizens and the private sector through a single interface.
Second: Benefits Achieved from Implementing E-Government
1. Improving the efficiency of government performance by accelerating procedures and reducing the time and effort required to complete government transactions.
2. Enhancing transparency and combating corruption by reducing direct human interaction and eliminating paper and stamps, thereby limiting manipulation and forgery.
3. Saving time and money by enabling citizens and companies to complete their transactions remotely, without the need for travel or repeated visits.
4. Improving the user experience
Through the provision of simple, tailored, and clear services based on accurate and up-to-date data.
5. Governance of trade and public funds
Ensuring full electronic tracking of financial and commercial operations from start to finish.
Third: Practical Outcomes – The Exports and Imports Window as a Model
The launch of the unified exports and imports window through the Baladna platform represents a practical example of the success of these strategies.
The systems of the following entities have been integrated:
The Central Bank of Sudan
The Ministry of Trade
The Customs Authority
The Civil Registry
Commercial banks
The Sudanese Standards and Metrology Organisation
The Zakat Chamber
The Taxation Chamber
These have been brought together into a single, integrated system that enables exporters and importers to complete their entire transaction electronically—from entering the national identification number to tracking proceeds—without any paper documents or in-person visits.
This integration of government systems enables:
High data accuracy
Faster decision-making
Real-time monitoring of operations
Enhanced trust between government institutions and the private sector
Fourth: The Significance of Transformation Amid War
Despite the harsh realities of war, this experience has demonstrated that circumstances are not an excuse for stagnation; rather, they can serve as a catalyst for change. Nations, in moments of existential challenge, often draw on their best capacities, driven by the imperatives of survival and continuity.
The experience of e-government in Sudan confirms that digital transformation is no longer a luxury or a project to be postponed until stability is restored. It has become an inevitable strategic choice for managing the state efficiently and with sound governance—even amid war and complex challenges. What is unfolding today is a genuine transition from fragmented, paper-based work to an integrated digital ecosystem.

Shortlink: https://sudanhorizon.com/?p=9959