Khartoum, May 3 (IANS): Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has announced closure of 13 diplomatic missions and four consular missions abroad due to a financial crisis.

Al-Bashir issued a decree on Wednesday to restructure Sudan's external representation and directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close select diplomatic and
consular missions abroad, Xinhua news agency reported citing the official Sudan News Agency.

The decree also directed to have a one-man ambassador in seven diplomatic missions.

In April, then Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour had said that Sudan was unable to finance its diplomatic missions abroad and some diplomats have to return home.

"For months, Sudanese diplomats have not received salaries and there is also a delay in paying rent for diplomatic missions," Ghandour said, prior to being fired by
Al-Bashir on April 19.

Sudan, hit by widening economic problems, has been suffering a foreign currency shortage since January 2018.