Hassan Omar, a grocer, is occupied with cleaning packaged food items that have been collecting dust for a while due to the ongoing economic crisis in Sudan. As a result, his dwindling customer base makes fewer purchases.

"People can no longer afford to buy all their needs," Omar, 43, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) at his grocery store in Khartoum.

"Purchasing power has significantly declined over the past six months," he said, noting that his sales had plummeted from 500,000 Sudanese pounds ($877) to 200,000 pounds ($350) per day over that period.

His plight reflects Sudan's spiraling economic crisis, which has forced many households to tighten their belts as nearly one-third of the 45 million population face acute hunger.

Some 65% of the population lives below the poverty line, according to a 2020 report by the United Nations (U.N.).

The country's economic troubles stem from decades of government mismanagement, armed conflict, and international sanctions against the government of former President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in April 2019 following mass protests against his rule triggered by biting hardship.

The crisis deepened following a 2021 military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, which upended a transition to civilian rule and triggered cuts to crucial international aid.

"We are trying to find cheaper alternatives to the food we normally consume," said Soaad Bashir, a government employee and mother of four.

"My income is meager, and expenses are too high," said the 43-year-old who makes less than 200,000 Sudanese pounds per month.

'Complete recession'

North Khartoum vegetable seller Al-Nour Adam says he has suffered heavy losses over the past nine months.

"Much of the produce spoilt because no one was buying it," said Adam, who now offers a smaller range of vegetables to cut his losses.

"It can't go on like this, or I will have to find another job."

Inflation in Sudan has eased over the past year, falling to 87% in December from 318% in the same month of 2021, analysts say that is not a sign of the economy improving.

"Inflation has simply declined because the market activity has for months been at a standstill," said Abdallah al-Ramady, an economics professor at Al-Nilin University.

"There is no demand, so commodities prices are not going up. So it's a complete recession."

Grocer Omar confirmed he had not raised his prices in months.

The economic crisis has hit broad sections of Sudanese society, not just the poor.

In recent weeks, hundreds of students protested over university fee increases.

"I was asked to pay 550,000 pounds ($964), and my family cannot afford to pay," said Mohamed Hussein, a first-year engineering student, noting that fees had last year stood at around 50,000 pounds ($87).

Meanwhile, hundreds of Sudanese professors have been on an open-ended strike since Jan. 10 to protest low salaries.

Hopes for stability

Fees for other government services, from issuing passports to road tolls, have also increased.

"Road toll fees increased five times at least compared to last year," said freight hauler Tigani Omar.

"It will increase the cost of transport and will eventually reflect on all products."

Despite skepticism about the prospects for a political breakthrough, some still hope a deal between Sudan's military rulers and civilian leaders could turn the economy around.

In December, the two sides signed a preliminary deal to restore the transition to civilian rule interrupted by Burhan's coup. However, critics have said the accord is "vague" and "opaque."

But Abdelhalim Hafez, a private sector employee and breadwinner for his family of six, hopes the deal could see the resumption of a family support program suspended after the coup.

"I lost the little help that program provided me," said Hafez, haggling with a fruit vendor in Khartoum.

"It may improve if this deal brings political stability."

Bashir agrees but does not expect it to happen soon.

"It will take years for the situation to improve," she said.