The Sudanese government has begun rolling out dozens of public services online, pressing ahead with a nationwide digitization drive even as the country remains mired in a nearly three‑year civil conflict and faces deep infrastructure challenges.

Officials say 28 administrative services have been added to Baladna, a national digital platform intended to replace paperwork‑heavy government procedures with a centralized online system for applications, registrations and official transactions. Launched in December, the initiative is part of a broader plan to modernize public administration and reduce bureaucratic delays.

In Port Sudan, which has largely been spared the fighting that has devastated other parts of the country, authorities say the platform is already improving efficiency.

"The platform works effectively and the progress is seen frequently despite all the technical and logistical challenges," said Major General Majdi Madani, head of technology at the Sudanese Customs Administration. He said the system would shorten procedures, reduce smuggling and make document verification easier. 

"It shall link customs and tariffs with all economic activities and governmental services," he added.

The government has framed Baladna as a cornerstone of its digital transformation agenda, alongside plans for a national data center and expanded 4G infrastructure to improve connectivity and access nationwide.

But the rollout has exposed the limits of Sudan’s digital readiness. Large parts of the country suffer unreliable electricity, weak internet coverage and damaged communications infrastructure, problems compounded by the ongoing conflict. Early users say the platform shows promise but remains uneven in performance.

"I'm using the platform now from Port Sudan and can track the progress of a pending transaction," said Basheer Hashim, a Sudanese businessman. Digitizing procedures, he said, could reduce reliance on intermediaries who slowed the old system. "Connectivity can be challenging at times, which is understandable in the context of war, but we're hoping for faster and more stable performance.”

Technology experts caution that launching a centralized digital system during an active conflict carries significant risks.

"The biggest challenges facing such projects are infrastructure and stability," said Lt. Mohamed Ashraf, an information and communications technology developer. While Sudan has developed alternative networking solutions, he said, "at some point you need a lot of cooperation and coordination to link all institutions together amid the current conditions.”

Experts also warn that cybersecurity and data protection could become vulnerabilities if systems are expanded faster than they can be secured.

Government officials argue digitization is a long‑term investment to preserve records, improve transparency and lay the groundwork for postwar recovery. Whether Baladna can deliver reliable access beyond relatively stable areas like Port Sudan may ultimately depend on how quickly Sudan can stabilize its communications networks and the country itself.

Edited by CGTN Africa reporter Marion Gachuhi