Al-Daein, February 18 (Darfur24)
A fire at the Adikok border market in West Darfur has led to a sharp rise in the prices of several essential commodities, especially sugar, in markets across East Darfur State, traders told Darfur24, as families prepare for increased food demand ahead of Ramadan.
Ahmed Youssef, a trader in Al-Daein market, said the incident directly disrupted the flow of goods arriving through Chad. He explained that the Adikok market serves as a key commercial link between Darfur states and cross-border supply routes, providing large quantities of basic commodities despite the ongoing conflict.
On Sunday, a drone strike attributed by local sources to the Sudanese Armed Forces hit the market, located in an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, sparking a major fire that destroyed merchants’ goods and food stocks.
Youssef said the price of a 50-kilogram bag of sugar rose in some East Darfur markets to about 230,000 Sudanese pounds, compared to roughly 175,000 pounds before the incident. He noted that the timing has added pressure on households trying to secure supplies for Ramadan.
The civil administration in West Darfur said the market had been struck for the second time in three months. It added that the same aircraft also bombed the Jebel Moon area, resulting in civilian casualties.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has continued since April 2023, disrupting trade routes and worsening economic and security conditions across Darfur and other regions.