Nyala, January 19 (Darfur24)
Hundreds of residents lined up on Sunday outside the headquarters of a newly established bank in Nyala, South Darfur State, to open accounts at Al-Mustaqbal Banking and Financial Services Limited.
The new banking system, launched in Nyala last week, is expected to gradually expand its services to other parts of Darfur.
Citizens told Darfur24 that they arrived early in the morning to register but were surprised to find that application forms had run out due to the high volume of applicants. Long queues formed outside the bank’s headquarters throughout the day.
Local sources said the former Nile Bank building in the Nyala Grand Market complex has been designated as the headquarters of Al-Mustaqbal Banking and Financial Services Limited.
They explained that account opening procedures require obtaining a registration form, attaching a personal photograph, and submitting an identification document for the applicant, in addition to documentation for a relative. The new system allows both individual and joint accounts to be opened.
One customer told Darfur24 that he successfully opened an account after completing registration, downloading the bank’s mobile application, and depositing 20,000 Sudanese pounds into his new account. He added that he made a financial transfer to another customer within the same bank, noting that transfers are currently limited to accounts held within Al-Mustaqbal.
The launch follows recommendations made during an economic conference held last May by civilian administrations affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces, which called for establishing an alternative banking system in areas under RSF control to stimulate economic activity.
Since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, banks and commercial institutions have largely ceased operations across Darfur and parts of Kordofan.
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