Fuel prices in El Geneina, West Darfur State, have surged by 100%, with a gallon of fuel now costing twenty thousand Sudanese pounds, up from ten thousand.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Friday, Mohammed Musa Al-Ghali, a resident of El Geneina, attributes this sharp increase to the ongoing war in Sudan. According to Al-Ghali, the state, like other regions in Darfur and Kordofan, experienced a shutdown after April 15, disrupting the flow of goods from Khartoum. This resulted in a scarcity of supplies, causing prices to soar.
Al-Ghali explained, “There were no goods coming from Khartoum, so prices increased, and quantities of fuel and other goods ran out.” To address the shortage, suppliers turned to Libyan fuel via Chad, which initially helped stabilize prices.
However, Al-Ghali highlighted that the cost of a fuel tanker surged from forty to eighty thousand pounds, more than doubling in a short period. This drastic increase further exacerbated the challenges faced by consumers in West Darfur State.
Al-Ghali clarified that the surge in prices extends beyond fuel, encompassing various commodities. This is exacerbated by the absence of state institutions in the region, leading to a lack of control over commodities. The situation is further influenced by the dynamics of supply and demand, as well as the illicit entry and distribution of goods to other Sudanese regions.
The spike in fuel prices in Chad has had a ripple effect on Sudan, with Libya halting commodity exports in December, contributing to the overall price increase.
Civil activist Al-Nour emphasized the significance of fuel as a vital and strategic commodity. He highlighted that shortages and escalating prices not only impact transportation but also have far-reaching effects on various aspects of daily life.
Sudan spiralled into war after soaring tensions between army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo exploded into open fighting in mid-April.
The war broke out due to disagreements over plans for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the army, four years after former ruler Omar al-Bashir was deposed in an uprising.
More than 12,000 people have been killed, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict and Event Data Project, while the United Nations says nearly 6.8 million have been forced to flee their homes.
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