Sudan Central Bank: Revokes Sudan Pay Digital License for Mobile Payments

• On September 28, 2026, the Central Bank of Sudan revoked the operating license of Sudan Pay Digital (SPD), a mobile payment service provider.
• The decision, Administrative Decision No. (65) for 2026, was issued by Central Bank Governor Amina Mirghani Hassan Al-Toumi.
• SPD was licensed to offer mobile payment services and operate a financial transactions switch, connecting banks such as Bank of Khartoum and Bank of the Nile.
• The revocation was based on the Banking Regulation Law of 2026 and related regulations for mobile payment financial institutions and payment systems.
• No specific reasons for the Sudan Pay Digital license cancellation were publicly disclosed, but it follows the Central Bank's ongoing review of the e-payment sector and a prior license revocation for Al-Asjad Digital Solutions Limited approximately two months earlier.

The Central Bank's recent actions, including the Sudan Pay Digital license cancellation, underscore a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny within the nation's rapidly evolving e-payment landscape.

On Monday, September 28, 2026, the Central Bank of Sudan issued a significant administrative decision, revoking the operating license for Sudan Pay Digital (SPD), a prominent mobile payment service provider. This action effectively cancels SPD's authorization to operate in the mobile payment sector and manage a financial transactions switch. Sudan Pay Digital was previously a financial institution licensed by the Central Bank, established with the aim of creating an internal banking network to link various Sudanese banks, including Bank of Khartoum, Bank of the Nile, United Capital Bank, and Commercial Farmers Bank.

The directive, officially designated as Administrative Decision No. (65) for the year 2026, was personally issued by the Governor of the Central Bank, Amina Mirghani Hassan Al-Toumi. While the decision explicitly mandates the cancellation of the license granted to SPD and instructs relevant authorities to ensure its implementation, the public statement from the Central Bank's Corporate Communications Department did not disclose specific reasons behind this particular Sudan Pay Digital license cancellation.

The Central Bank's decision to revoke Sudan Pay Digital's license is firmly rooted in the nation's existing legal and regulatory framework governing financial institutions. Governor Al-Toumi's administrative order specifically referenced the provisions of the Banking Regulation Law of 2026, alongside the Regulations for Licensing and Organizing Mobile Payment Financial Institutions of 2020, and the Regulations for Organizing Payment Systems of 2013. These legislative instruments provide the Central Bank of Sudan with the authority to oversee and regulate entities operating within the burgeoning e-payment sector.

This move by the Central Bank of Sudan aligns with its ongoing, broader initiative to review the status of companies and institutions engaged in electronic payment services and payment systems. The overarching goal of this continuous oversight is to ensure strict adherence to the technical, financial, and supervisory requirements that govern such activities. Notably, this is not an isolated incident; approximately two months prior to the Sudan Pay Digital revocation, the Central Bank had also withdrawn the approval granted to Al-Asjad Digital Solutions Limited, another entity operating in electronic payment systems, signaling a consistent pattern of increased regulatory enforcement.

The Central Bank's recent actions, including the Sudan Pay Digital license cancellation, underscore a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny within the nation's rapidly evolving e-payment landscape. Despite the absence of publicly stated specific reasons for this particular revocation, the directive for immediate implementation by competent authorities sends a clear message to all operators in the Central Bank of Sudan mobile payment and broader e-payment sectors. The emphasis is squarely on rigorous compliance with established regulations.

This intensified focus on compliance, as evidenced by the recent license revocations, highlights the Central Bank's commitment to maintaining stability and integrity within the financial system. For all financial technology companies and institutions involved in e-payment services, this period necessitates a thorough re-evaluation of their operational frameworks to ensure full alignment with all technical, financial, and supervisory mandates under Sudan e-payment regulation. The consistent application of these regulatory measures indicates a proactive approach by the Central Bank to safeguard the financial ecosystem.

The Central Bank of Sudan's ongoing review and recent license revocations for mobile payment providers signal heightened regulatory scrutiny in the e-payment sector. Lawyers and compliance officers should proactively advise clients operating in this space to conduct thorough compliance audits against technical, financial, and supervisory requirements to mitigate the risk of license suspension or revocation.

Source: Original reporting via Sudan Tribune.