Arabic version: نقص الوقود يرفع الأسعار في أنحاء السودان

According to Allafrica, fuel prices have risen in several Sudanese states as shortages and long queues return to Khartoum, adding pressure on households facing higher food costs and a weaker pound.

The White Nile State Council for the Organisation and Development of Public Transport approved a new fuel price composition, setting a gallon of petrol at SDG38,805 in Kosti, Rabak, El Guteina and Ed Duweim localities. The council also recommended adding SDG20 per gallon in transport costs across several towns and localities.

Wa’ad Idris, a housewife and mother of four in White Nile State, told Radio Dabanga that her family has reduced meals from two each day to one basic meal. She said cooking oil had risen from about SDG10,000 to SDG19,000, while a bottle of onions increased from SDG2,000 to SDG7,000. A pound of milk for children costs about SDG3,000, she said.

Idris said a simple tomato salad made with dakwa, or peanut butter, or oil can cost about SDG7,000 or more, while a kilogramme of sugar has reached about SDG7,000. She said families may have only a snack or tea at night if food is unavailable or unaffordable.

In Khartoum, a resident told Radio Dabanga that several fuel stations stopped selling after reports of an expected increase in the customs dollar and fuel prices. The resident alleged that some owners were holding fuel until new prices were announced. Petrol and diesel shortages have forced people to wait for hours or buy at higher black-market prices, with an expected increase of SDG5,000 to SDG6,000 per gallon cited by the resident.