Nyala, February 10 (Darfur24)
The head of the Rapid Support Forces’ civilian administration in South Darfur State, Youssef Idris, has issued an order lifting a ban on the circulation of “Manchester,” “Shamlan,” and “Bon” cigarettes in Nyala markets.
The decision follows intensive security campaigns carried out by the RSF’s Economic Security Intelligence against cigarette traders in the city. A copy of the directive, reviewed by Darfur24, instructs security authorities and the Ministry of Finance to end the restrictions that had been in place since late January.
RSF intelligence had previously prohibited the sale and purchase of the three brands in favor of alternatives such as “River” and “Traditional,” which are imported via Nyala International Airport.
Cigarette traders told Darfur24 that a meeting was held in early September last year between RSF intelligence officers and wholesale traders to discuss halting sales of the banned brands. October 5 was set as the deadline to stop trading products imported from South Sudan and Libya.
According to the traders, enforcement campaigns began after that date, during which quantities of cigarettes were confiscated and those found in violation of the order paid 500,000 pounds as fine.