Al-Daein, September 19 (Darfur24)
Civilian administration authorities affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al-Daein locality, East Darfur, on Thursday banned storing and hoarding corn and millet and imposed fines and prison terms on violators.
The order, issued by local executive director Mohamed Osman Adam and obtained by Darfur24, prohibits traders from storing corn in warehouses to create shortages or wait for prices to rise. Traders holding stored quantities must release them for daily sale and report the quantities to the authorities within one week.
The order sets a fine of 500,000 Sudanese pounds or one month in prison for a first offense and requires traders to release the stored grain at prevailing market prices.
Penalties double to a fine of 1 million pounds or two months in prison for a second offense. A third offense carries confiscation of the stored grain and its free distribution to residents.
The order applies throughout Al-Daein locality and assigns the competent district court responsibility for enforcing it, with the participation of several security and government agencies, including police, civil protection, RSF intelligence, economic security and tax authorities.
Several areas of Darfur and Kordofan have witnessed rising corn and millet prices amid concerns that poor rainfall could lead to a failed agricultural season.
Authorities in several areas, including South Darfur, Zalingei in Central Darfur and Kutum in North Darfur, have also introduced measures restricting grain movements to other areas.
A sack of millet has reportedly reached about 600,000 pounds in Zalingei and 400,000 pounds in Nyala, while prices in Hamra Al-Sheikh, North Kordofan, have risen to about 750,000 pounds.