Traders in Ed Duweim, White Nile state, began a two-day strike on Tuesday to protest rising fees on commercial activity, while residents in Port Sudan endure worsening water and electricity shortages amid a severe heatwave along the Red Sea coast.
The strike followed a call by the Ed Duweim Chamber of Commerce to close the market through Wednesday. Traders said the new fees impose an unsustainable financial burden on businesses and will ultimately drive up prices for goods and services. Trader Awad El Tom told Radio Dabanga that participation reached 100 percent, with traders demanding the locality review the charges. He criticized the number of fees and financial demands, noting some collections were made without official receipts, and called for transparent procedures and dialogue between local authorities and the Chamber of Commerce.
In Port Sudan, a severe water shortage coincides with power cuts lasting more than 20 hours a day as temperatures climb. Residents report surging water prices while prolonged electricity outages compound the crisis, leaving households with few alternatives. Hashim Taher Bilal, a resident of Sallab, said water shortages have persisted for five years despite adequate production, blaming poor distribution and accusing distributors of exploiting the shortage. Mohamed Abdelqader Awad, the mayor of Obshar, described the crisis as artificial, noting some residents have resorted to buying water transported by tanker trucks.
Journalist Othman Hashem said extended power cuts are worsening conditions, particularly for patients, while solar systems and fuel-powered generators remain prohibitively expensive for most households. A red alert for the heatwave along the Red Sea coast, including Port Sudan, remains in force until Thursday. Health authorities have urged residents to avoid direct sunlight, stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak heat, and take extra care of older people, children, and those with chronic illnesses.
The simultaneous crises highlight the strain on essential services and local economies in Sudan’s urban centers. Authorities in both locations face mounting pressure to address fee structures and infrastructure failures before conditions deteriorate further.
