International donors on Thursday pledged $1.5bn to support Sudan’s fragile transition. Crisis Group expert Murithi Mutiga says international financial support is desperately needed as the country faces mounting economic turbulence that is undermining public confidence in the civilian-led government, risking a return to widespread popular unrest. While the total pledged fell short of the $8bn that the government requested last year, donor funds, if swiftly disbursed, would help to bolster Prime Minister Hamdok’s position domestically and demonstrate to the street that the government is capable of responding to its demands.