Sudan Traders: Millions Missing From Bankak App After Hacks

• Over 50 traders and customers in West Kordofan claim millions of Sudanese pounds were stolen from their Bank of Khartoum accounts via the Bankak mobile app.
• The Dar Hamar Emergency Rooms have documented these cases, with individual losses reportedly ranging from SDG 18 million to SDG 45 million.
• Affected individuals are preparing collective legal action, accusing the Bank of Khartoum of failing to safeguard deposits and neglecting to freeze compromised accounts.
• The Emergency Rooms have urged residents to boycott the bank's services and are demanding full reimbursement and investigations into the thefts.
• The Bank of Khartoum has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the alleged security breaches.

Banking regulations and civil law, according to the Dar Hamar Emergency Rooms, impose an obligation on the bank to protect customer deposits and ensure robust cybersecurity measures.

More than 50 traders and customers in Sudan's West Kordofan region have reported the theft of millions of Sudanese pounds from their Bank of Khartoum accounts, allegedly facilitated through the institution's Bankak mobile banking application. These individuals are now preparing to initiate collective legal proceedings, asserting that the bank failed in its duty to protect their deposited funds.

The Dar Hamar Emergency Rooms have meticulously documented over 50 such incidents, encompassing traders operating in the Umbadir area of North Kordofan. Azzam Hamed, a spokesperson for the Emergency Rooms, disclosed that the reported financial losses for each affected person vary significantly, ranging from SDG 18 million to SDG 45 million. Hamed further accused the bank of neglecting to freeze compromised accounts even after customers reported the thefts, with some individuals discovering their funds had already been withdrawn upon visiting bank branches. Walid Ismail El Sadig, one of the affected customers, detailed the theft of SDG 21 million from his account through two separate transfers: SDG 15 million on October 14 and an additional SDG 6 million on November 3. Despite reporting the incident and filing a complaint with the public prosecution, El Sadig stated that no progress has been made in his case.

El Sadig also recounted persistent issues when attempting to verify his account balance through the Bankak application, receiving messages indicating a mismatch in his details, even after a bank employee confirmed his balance at a physical branch. His subsequent visit to the cybercrime prosecution office revealed numerous other individuals facing similar problems, predominantly Bank of Khartoum account holders. He alleges that the bank has refused to acknowledge a vulnerability within its application, instead attributing the losses to customers opening fraudulent links—an explanation El Sadig rejects, noting that he is aware of others who suffered similar losses without such actions. Another customer, working in the Umbadir area of Sodari locality in West Kordofan, reported the theft of SDG 12 million from their account on October 14, 2026, without having received any suspicious messages or opened any links. This customer discovered the funds were transferred to another individual's account, whose phone was subsequently switched off, and whose account was also found to be compromised.

The Dar Hamar Emergency Rooms have formally addressed the Bank of Khartoum, the Central Bank of Sudan, the Public Prosecution, and other pertinent judicial authorities, demanding decisive action regarding these alleged thefts. Their core argument posits that existing banking regulations and civil law unequivocally obligate the bank to safeguard customer deposits and implement robust cybersecurity measures. They contend that any security breach or technical flaw within the bank's systems renders it liable for both direct and consequential financial losses incurred by its customers.

A significant accusation leveled against the bank is its alleged failure to trace and freeze stolen funds after being notified of the incidents. Instead, the bank reportedly directed customers to file police reports, a course of action the Emergency Rooms deem negligent, arguing it exacerbated the financial losses. Affected customers have proceeded to file criminal complaints, while specialized legal committees are actively preparing collective lawsuits targeting the executive management of the Bank of Khartoum.

Beyond seeking compensation for individual losses, the Emergency Rooms are also pushing for regulatory penalties against the bank. This includes the potential suspension of its electronic banking service licenses, underscoring the severity of the alleged security lapses. The Central Bank of Sudan has been contacted to demand stricter oversight of banking operations in light of these events.

The widespread reports of stolen funds and the Bank of Khartoum's alleged inaction have significant implications for public trust in the country's financial institutions and the security of digital banking services. The Dar Hamar Emergency Rooms have taken a strong stance, urging residents to cease opening new accounts with the Bank of Khartoum, suspend existing deposits, withdraw their current funds, and boycott the bank's services entirely until the stolen money is returned and affected customers receive full compensation.

Their comprehensive demands include the complete reimbursement of all stolen funds, the immediate freezing of any accounts that received fraudulent transfers, and thorough investigations conducted in collaboration with security and judicial authorities to identify and hold responsible those involved in the thefts. Furthermore, the Emergency Rooms have called for accountability within the bank itself, urging the institution to address any employee involvement or negligence. The Bank of Khartoum has not yet provided a response to inquiries from Radio Dabanga regarding these serious allegations, leaving many questions unanswered for its customers and the broader public.

Source: Original reporting via Radio Dabanga