Sudan Transport Union Hikes Fares as Fuel Prices Soar

Public transport fares in Sudan jumped this month as the country grapples with a severe fuel shortage.

The Sudan Transport Chambers Union, which regulates public and private transport, implemented the price increases in October. Intercity bus fares rose by 40%, while minibus fares increased by 30%. These changes follow a spike in petrol prices driven by scarcity and war-related disruptions to supply chains.

Fuel availability has become a primary constraint on daily economic activity. In Gazira State, south of Khartoum, a gallon of petrol now costs 40,000 Sudanese pounds. In Port Sudan, the price is 35,000 pounds. The United Nations Development Programme reports that average incomes in Sudan have fallen to levels last seen in the 1990s. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum estimated war-related losses at $20 billion last year. Attacks on the Balila oil field have disrupted supplies to the Khartoum refinery, which previously met about 60% of national demand for petrol and liquefied petroleum gas.

Azhari Mohamed, a 60-year-old minibus driver in Port Sudan, works seven round trips a day between the Shagar neighborhood and the city center. His vehicle consumes three gallons of petrol daily, costing approximately 105,000 pounds. After covering operating costs, he earns about 50,000 pounds daily. He told Al Jazeera, "We just need fuel to be available so we can work." Mohamed now works two days and spends a third waiting in line, with single waits often exceeding five hours.

Passengers face similar strain. Aziza Ibrahim, a 38-year-old cleaner in Port Sudan, has reduced her work to three days a week to manage travel costs. Her daily round trip to the city center now costs 11,000 pounds, nearly half of her 400,000-pound monthly salary. She supports four children and manages diabetes treatment. Economic analyst Sidi Ohaj noted that government rules requiring importers to deposit 200kg of gold in the Central Bank have reduced supply. He urged the government to ease import procedures. Ahmed al-Haj, a trader in Omdurman, reported that transport costs for a tonne of goods have risen by 30 to 50%. Local delivery fees in Omdurman have doubled from 5,000 pounds to between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds.

The Transport Chambers Union has not announced further fare adjustments since the current increase took effect. Drivers and traders in affected areas continue to monitor fuel station availability daily.