My card was taken by an ATM near my hotel in Sudan. Has this happened to anyone else? Solution?
That's a huge issue, and you're not alone. I've heard this story many times. Unfortunately, the card is gone forever. Due to the sanctions, the ATMs are not equipped to handle international transactions. Your priority should be to call your bank immediately to block the card. Your solution for cash will have to be a backup credit card if you have one, or a cash wire from a friend or family member. There is no other way to get money there as a traveler.
This happened to me at a National Bank of Sudan ATM. The card is gone. Do not waste your time trying to get it back; the bank will destroy it for security reasons. The best and only solution is to contact your home bank immediately and report the card lost or stolen. In Sudan, you have to bring all the cash you need with you, preferably US dollars, and exchange it at a bureau de change. This is the only reliable way to get cash there.
This is a big problem in Sudan, as the financial system is largely cut off from the rest of the world. International cards do not work at ATMs in the country, and any attempt to use one will likely result in the card being swallowed or rejected. You won't get it back; it's gone for good. Your only option for cash is to use a second card you might have, or to have a friend or family member send you money through a money transfer service.
Oh no, that's a nightmare. The first and most critical step is to call your home bank immediately to cancel or freeze the card. Due to international sanctions, ATMs in Sudan are not connected to international networks, and foreign cards usually won't work anyway. If an ATM took your card, it was likely an internal machine error, and you have no way to get it back. Your only solution is to have a friend or family member wire you money via a service like Western Union or MoneyGram, which has limited branches in Khartoum.