Zalingei, March 30 (Darfur24)
Fuel prices have reached record levels in Zalingei, Central Darfur, following Chad’s renewed closure of its border with Sudan earlier this month.
The closure, Chad’s second in March, came after a drone strike on the border town of Al Tina that killed 17 people and injured 20, prompting N’Djamena to tighten controls amid security concerns.
According to Darfur24’s correspondent, the price of a barrel of gasoline rose from 1.5 million to 2.25 million Sudanese pounds, while diesel increased from 1.4 million to about 2.1 million pounds.
The spike has driven up transportation costs, with fares rising from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds per passenger, while many vehicles have stopped operating due to high fuel prices.
Residents say the crisis has forced many to rely on donkey carts or walk instead of using public transport.
Rising fuel costs have also pushed up food prices. Traders reported increases of 20–40 percent in the cost of goods, as transport expenses for vegetables and other supplies surged. The price of flour has also climbed, further straining household budgets.