September 8, 2026 Report – Darfur24
The war that broke out in April in Darfur has not only left behind devastated cities, mass displacement, and a lack of security; it has also created space for a “shadow economy” to flourish. In this environment which characterized by the erosion of law enforcement and weak health and mental health services—the drug trade has become intertwined with smuggling networks.
According to accounts received by Darfur24 from specialists across Darfur’s five states, the drug trade operates along routes stretching from production areas—particularly in South Darfur—to major cities, before reaching other Sudanese states. Meanwhile, synthetic drugs enter the region across borders with Chad, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
Specialists speaking to Darfur24 note that while the drug trade existed prior to the war, it has taken on more dangerous dimensions during the four years of conflict. New types of synthetic drugs have emerged—including Captagon, crystal meth , and injectable narcotics—alongside cannabis, locally known as “Bango.”
According to information presented in the eleventh episode of the “Stories from Darfur” podcast, the Radom locality in South Darfur is the epi center for cannabis production in the region; estimates cited in the episode suggest it produces approximately 90 percent of the “Bango” circulating in Darfur.
From these production zones, the drugs move to the city of Nyala and onward to other Sudanese states, while some shipments are trafficked across borders into neighboring countries. According to experts, drug traffickers exploited the security and institutional vacuum accompanying the war to expand their activities, transforming them from limited operations into a more extensive and organized network.
War Expands the Scope of the Drug Trade:
Dr. Nasr al-Din Youssef, a specialist in psychosocial support initiatives for drug users, tells Darfur24 that drug use existed in Darfur prior to the war, but the conflict has exacerbated the phenomenon.
Youssef attributes this—among other factors—to the absence of state institutions, particularly the anti-naroctic unit that once monitored borders and pursued traffickers; their absence has granted smuggling and distribution networks greater freedom of movement.
He notes that the weakness of the health sector has further complicated the crisis, as most local hospitals lack the specialized facilities and personnel needed to treat addiction and the mental health issues associated with drug use.
Consequently, many drug users who reach hospitals fail to receive specialized treatment due to limited resources and the absence of necessary therapeutic programs.
Allegations of Fighters Involvement in Drug Trafficking:
In the city of Zalingei, Central Darfur State, “K.M.”—an employee of a humanitarian organization operating in the city who requested anonymity—states that the proliferation of drugs during the war is driven by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters who are both distributing and using the substances.
He adds that drug prevalence has risen alongside the government’s absence and the RSF’s takeover of state administration. He points to a specific market established at the “Rajab Building”—located south of the Bank of Khartoum in Zalingei—where various types of drugs, as well as liquid alcohol, are traded by individuals carrying weapons.
He notes that the RSF leadership has attempted to confront those involved in this activity, but… They put up fierce resistance, and the confrontation nearly sparked an internal conflict—prompting the leadership, according to his account, to back down and leave them .
(K.M.) adds that while the prevalence of drugs is lower in areas under army control, the issue persists; consequently, he does not expect the crisis to vanish simply upon the return of army control.
He notes that humanitarian organizations are currently unable to play a constructive role in this area due to a lack of cooperation from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leadership, explaining that psychosocial support projects have been directed toward women who have suffered domestic violence and rape.
From cannabis to Captagon and crystal meth:
In a study conducted by Dr. Nasr al-Din Youssef, the prevalence of drug abuse among youth in North Darfur State was examined. According to his findings, the study covered samples from the localities of Tina, Kebkabiya, and Saraf Omra—areas known for significant drug trafficking activity.
The study indicated that the town of Tina, situated on the Sudan-Chad border, has become a key hub for synthetic drugs entering from Chad before being smuggled into various parts of Sudan by networks of dealers.
Youssef noted that the study revealed a widespread and alarming prevalence of Captagon, which has emerged as one of the most dangerous drugs circulating among some young people.
Youssef states that while cannabis which is known locally as” Bango”was the most prevalent drug prior to the war, recent years have seen the emergence of more dangerous varieties, including Captagon, crystal meth, and certain narcotics administered via injection.
The study warned that synthetic drugs carry severe psychological and physical consequences, potentially leading to dangerous or even fatal complications in some cases.
This assessment is corroborated by the account of K.M.H., a warrant office who worked in drug enforcement in one of the Darfur states prior to the war. (K.M.H.) tells Darfur24 that anti-narcotics personnel are currently operating outside their jurisdiction in active conflict zones, leaving no room for effective drug enforcement. He confirms a rise in the use and trafficking of synthetic drugs, which are entering Darfur via the Tina border crossing on thevChad-Sudan border.
He adds that the proliferation is evident even to the average citizen—let alone the relevant authorities—noting that the absence of a counter-narcotics strategy by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—which control Darfur’s states—has exacerbated the crisis. This is particularly concerning given that, according to him, the majority of traffickers are themselves affiliated with the RSF.
(K.M.H.) reveals the emergence of new types of synthetic drugs—substances originally intended as medical anesthetics that are now being abused as narcotics in Darfur. He warns of the danger they pose to young people, stating that their use without professional medical supervision can lead to paralysis or insanity.
The famous cannabis in Darfur
Targeting Regular Schools and traditional Quranic schools : Dr. Nasr al-Din Yusuf identifies South Darfur State as one of the areas most affected by the spread of drugs.
He states that trafficking networks are no longer targeting only traditional users; they have begun targeting teenagers, including students in both regular schools and Quranic traditional schools.
According to him, some traffickers use children for distribution, offering a child a single narcotic pill in exchange for distributing several blister packs—a tactic designed to simultaneously expand the” pool “of both users and traffickers.
Yusuf identifies the age group most at risk as those between 15 and 30 years old.
Specialists do not view the spread of drugs… …as merely a security issue; in reality, the phenomenon is driven by a complex interplay of social, psychological, and economic factors exacerbated by the war.
Nasr al-Din Youssef identifies several factors pushing young people toward substance use, including war, displacement, homelessness, and a lack of security and family stability.
In an environment where thousands of young people live far from their families or endure harsh living conditions, drugs—according to Youssef—become a means of escaping reality or seeking a high, eventually spiraling into a cycle of addiction that is difficult to break.
Stigma is Another Barrier to Treatment:
Beyond the inadequacy of health services, addiction treatment faces a social obstacle, the stigma associated with mental illness and substance abuse.
Nasr al-Din notes that many young people hesitate to seek help for fear of how society might view them, though he emphasizes that some users have managed to overcome this barrier and voluntarily seek treatment.
He adds that staff in psychosocial support programs stand by these young people, monitoring their cases to help them recover and reintegrate into society.
With the state absent from vast areas of Darfur, Youssef explains that psychosocial support teams must reach users where they are to provide awareness and guidance.
Nasr al-Din Youssef stresses the need to change how substance users are treated, particularly within healthcare institutions.
He believes Darfur’s hospitals require specialized staff and psychiatric facilities capable of admitting and treating addiction cases, rather than simply viewing the user as a criminal.
He argues that the approach to these cases must integrate legal, health, and social perspectives to help the user overcome addiction and reclaim their life.
Sensitization is the Last Line of Defence
With the collapse of significant parts of the healthcare and security infrastructure due to the war, Youssef believes that community awareness represents one of the most viable paths currently available to curb the spread of drugs.
He proposes expanding awareness programs within Regular schools and traditional religious schools (khalwas), and involving traditional leadership, community elders, and families in confronting this phenomenon.
He also advocates for providing sports programs, vocational training, and job opportunities for young people, viewing these as measures that can help mitigate the idleness and marginalisation that make some of them more vulnerable to drug use.
Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of tightening border controls and combating smuggling operations, alongside strengthening the family’s role in monitoring children and remaining alert to sudden changes in their behavior.
Nasr al-Din states that, should the fighting cease, the Darfur states will require a long and intensive effort to tackle this issue—an effort grounded in cooperation among the police, judicial bodies, civil society organizations, families, and healthcare institutions.
He notes that some organizations have already begun implementing psychosocial support programs and specialized training workshops; however, the scale of the problem necessitates the expansion and coordination of these efforts.
An Entire Generation Put to Test:
Nasr al-Din warns that the danger of drugs is not limited to the individual user but extends to their family and social environment.
He explains that addiction can be linked to an increased risk of violence and crime—including murder, rape, and looting—as well as child neglect and the exacerbation of poverty and unemployment.
Regarding health, potential consequences—according to his assessment—include psychological disorders and diseases affecting the nervous and respiratory systems, in addition to damage to the liver and kidneys. While cannabis (bango) has for decades been the most dangerous feature of the drug landscape in Darfur, the emergence and spread of synthetic drugs among the youth are opening a far more complex chapter in the crisis.
The war, which weakened state institutions, created not only a security vacuum but also an environment ripe for an illicit economy—one where cultivation, smuggling, trafficking, and consumption are deeply intertwined.
Ultimately, the battle extends far beyond seizing a shipment or arresting a dealer; it is a fight for the future of an entire generation that grew up amidst war, finding weapons readily available while the state was absent and schools, hospitals, and families faltered in their natural roles.