Al-Dabba, January 14 (Darfur24)
A court ruling against five commercial truck owners in Al-Dabba, Northern State, has triggered widespread anger among traders and residents after the men were convicted under the Emergency Law for allegedly transporting goods to areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur and Kordofan.
On Sunday, the Al-Dabba court fined each defendant ten million Sudanese pounds and ordered the confiscation of their goods and vehicles, despite their possession of official transit documents. The seized cargo included basic food commodities such as biscuits, dates, flour, and sugar destined for local markets.
Last November, Northern State Governor Lt. Gen. Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid Ibrahim issued Emergency Order No. (6), banning the transport of goods from the state to areas under Rapid Support Forces control in Darfur and Kordofan. The order imposes harsh penalties, including prison sentences of up to five years and heavy fines.
Traders described the court’s decision as “unfair” and harmful to civilians, warning that ordinary citizens will bear the brunt of the ban, particularly as Ramadan approaches. They called on the governor to review and revoke the order.
Musa Mohammed, a trader displaced from El Fasher, told Darfur24 that the decision deepens the humanitarian crisis by blocking essential food supplies from reaching Darfur markets. He noted that goods transported from the Northern State are vital to meeting local needs.
Meanwhile, residents in Nyala appealed to Northern State authorities to reopen the trade route with Darfur, citing worsening humanitarian conditions in the region.
Darfur remains largely under Rapid Support Forces control, except for areas held by the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdul Wahid Nur and limited zones under Sudanese army control.