Nyala, November 20 (Darfur24)
Traders in Nyala, South Darfur, say they are facing growing pressure from new fees imposed on shops and commercial activities by the civilian administration affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to traders and other local sources, the city administration has reinstated several annual levies, including threshold fees, zakat, and taxes, across markets in the city.
Merchants in Al-Junaynah bus station, the Grand Market, and the Popular Market told Darfur24 that the charges are being applied arbitrarily and without clear legal documentation from either the civil administration or local authorities.
Zakaria Hasaballah, a trader in the main Nyala market, said the administration revived the threshold fees earlier this year, assessing the value of goods and imposing charges accordingly. He noted that collectors, accompanied by members of the federal police, visit shops to evaluate merchandise and determine the amounts due “according to their own assessment.”
He added that traders are paying between 150,000 and 250,000 pounds in threshold fees. Those who refuse, he said, are taken to Nyala Central Police Station, questioned, and given a short grace period to comply. In cases of non-payment, traders are imprisoned until the fees are settled. Dozens of merchants initially resisted but later paid after being detained, he said.
Abdul Rahman Abdul Shafi, another trader, reported that additional administrative charges are also being levied, including 75,000 pounds for business licenses, 50,000 pounds in monthly payments to the market security force, and 10,000–20,000 pounds in waste collection fees.
Another trader, Hashim Ahmed, said the Zakat administration demands that merchants provide full inventories and invoices of goods each year to calculate zakat dues. He noted that the Zakat office is generally cooperative and offers traders time to pay. However, he said the tax administration is imposing further estimated charges through the Ministry of Finance collectors, who also work alongside federal police, without providing legal documentation.
Merchants are calling on the civil administration to consider their economic circumstances, reduce the financial burden, and establish a legislative council to regulate fee structures and clarify the services offered in return. They also noted that waste collection fees were recently raised from 20,000 to 35,000 pounds per month without noticeable improvements in market cleanliness.
A civil administration official in Nyala municipality, speaking to Darfur24 on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the existence of multiple collecting bodies despite efforts to regulate the process.
“Despite the measures taken, there are still entities imposing mandatory payments outside the legal framework, and controlling them remains difficult,” the official said.
The RSF has maintained control of South Darfur since October 2023, following months of fighting that ended with the withdrawal of the Sudanese army from the state.