Sudan's inflation rate, a key factor behind anti-government protests, fell sharply to 43 percent in January from almost 73 percent the previous month, official figures showed Monday. Soaring inflation along with acute foreign currency shortages have triggered deadly protests since December 19 across the east African country.

"The rate of inflation came down to 43.45 percent in January, compared to 72.98 in December," Sudan's Central Statistics Agency said in a statement. For more than a year, Sudan's inflation had steadily increased as food prices rose following subsidy cuts announced by the government. Food prices, especially of bread, tripled in December after the government cut a vital subsidy. Officials say 30 people have died in protest-related violence, while Human Rights Watch says at least 51 people have been killed.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019