Al Daein, August 19(Darfur 24)
Livestock traders and exporters in East Darfur state that falls in the jurisdiction of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have called on the Sudan Founding Alliance government TASIS, which was announced in areas controlled by the RSF, to find alternative markets for livestock exports.
This comes after thousands of herds of livestock accumulated in western Sudan due to the Rapid Support Forces preventing the passage of agricultural, livestock, and civilian products to areas under army control in the north, center, and east of the country.
Jedo Ahmed, a livestock trader in East Darfur State, told Darfur 24 that the state’s markets are overflowing with livestock exports and that there is no viable marketing for them, causing significant harm to both traders and livestock owners. He called on TASIS government to establish markets and crossings points for exports.
In contrast, a trader in the Ad Daein market told Darfur 24 that the high prices of livestock in the army-controlled areas of North Kordofan and the White Nile have prompted Darfur livestock traders to venture into the markets of North Kordofan and the White Nile, where livestock prices have soared, reaching 7 million per bull. Prices in Darfur range from 1 million to 1.5 million.
The trader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated that they have been subjected to extortion , paying large sums of money to allow the passage of shipments by military patrols and tribal militias on the road. Meanwhile, dozens of traders have had their livestock confiscated by the Rapid Support Forces.
The livestock sector in Kordofan and Darfur has been severely affected by the ongoing war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, with trade between these areas and the country’s eastern and northern regions halted.