Atbara, September 08 (Darfur24)
Traders in River Nile State shut down Atbara’s main market on Sunday and Monday in protest against rising government taxes and local fees, bringing commercial activity to a near standstill.
A trader in Atbara told Darfur24 that all shops closed in response to what merchants described as excessive taxes, revenues and municipal charges imposed despite worsening economic conditions.
He said declining purchasing power has sharply reduced sales, leaving many traders unable to cover even a fraction of their operating costs. Merchants also objected to the transfer of revenue collection practices, saying the financial burden has increasingly fallen on businesses.
The strike committee plans to meet local authorities and the Department of Economic Affairs to discuss its demands and seek relief from the growing tax burden.
The protest comes as Sudan’s economic crisis deepens, with the Sudanese pound continuing to lose value against foreign currencies and prices of essential goods rising beyond the reach of many households.