Sudan faces food crisis as prices soar and authorities ban grain hoarding

Sudan is facing severe food insecurity and social unrest as skyrocketing prices for staple commodities and fresh produce erode purchasing power. In the eastern city of Gedaref, demonstrators recently blocked main roads with burning tires to protest worsening living conditions and the rapid depreciation of the local currency.

In East Darfur, authorities in the Al-Daein locality have implemented a ban on grain hoarding to combat rising costs for corn and millet. Traders are required to disclose their stocks and release them into local markets. Violators face significant fines, prison sentences, or the confiscation of their grain. This crackdown follows reports of high prices for millet in various regions, including Zalingei and Nyala.

The economic crisis is being driven by a combination of ongoing civil war, currency devaluation, disrupted trade routes, and poor rainfall affecting the agricultural season.