Nyala, May 18 (Darfur24)
Traders and traditional miners in the gold mining areas of Sinqo town in Al-Roudm locality, about 286 kilometers south of Nyala, warned that the continued ban on the use of Starlink satellite internet devices could seriously disrupt commercial activity in local mining markets.
The restrictions were imposed following an airstrike that targeted the headquarters of Al-Junaid Company, which is affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in the Agabash gold mine area earlier this month.
A local trader told Darfur24 on Monday that the prolonged closure of Starlink internet shops had effectively paralyzed commercial activity in the mining markets and severely limited financial transfers, except for restricted transactions conducted through RSF intelligence offices.
Another trader said the continued shutdown had prevented traders from tracking gold prices in Nyala and other cities.
He added that RSF authorities occasionally allow limited internet access for about ten minutes at night for traders to complete business transactions and money transfers.
“The time is neither sufficient nor appropriate,” he said.
A miner told Darfur24 that transfer fees through the Bankak mobile banking application had risen sharply from 17 percent to between 23 and 25 percent due to the closure of satellite internet centers and the worsening shortage of cash liquidity.
He also reported that many miners and traders had abandoned the Agabash mine for other mining areas because of repeated aerial bombardments and what he described as strict restrictions imposed by the RSF on workers and miners.
Earlier in May, drones believed to belong to the Sudanese army carried out several strikes targeting the headquarters of Al-Junaid Company in the Agabash mine area, resulting in the suspension of operations at the site.