Sudan's market traders struggle amid drone threat and war disruption

Key Concepts

• Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group in Sudan currently engaged in a civil war with the Sudanese army.
• North Kordofan State: A state in Sudan, and the location of Albade, currently caught between RSF and army control.
• Gum Arabic & Sesame: Key commodities traded in the Albade market, representing significant economic activity.
• Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC): A UN-backed system for assessing and classifying food security situations.
• Acute Malnutrition: A severe form of undernutrition, reaching famine levels in parts of Sudan.
• Supply Chain Disruption: The interruption of the flow of goods, significantly impacting the Albade market and food security.

The Situation in Albade Market, Sudan: A Civil War Impact Assessment

The Albade market in central Sudan, North Kordofan State, is operating under significant duress due to the ongoing civil war. Once a thriving hub for crops, particularly millet, gum arabic, and sesame, the market now faces immediate danger and severe economic disruption. The location of Albade is strategically precarious, situated between territory controlled by the Sudanese army to the east and the Darfur stronghold of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to the west.

A key event impacting the market was a drone strike several months prior, as reported by Amira al ehar, a local worker. This strike resulted in the destruction of warehouses filled with crops and the loss of livelihoods for many. While conditions have “become a little more stable” recently, the market is far from recovered.

Economic Impact & Supply Chain Breakdown

The war has drastically reduced the volume of produce reaching the Albade market. Abdulmonium Ahmed, a member of the crop traders chamber, states that current arrivals are only approximately 10% of pre-war levels. This decline is directly observable in the workload of individuals like Sidik Ismael, who previously weighed between 1,500 and 2,000 sacks of crops daily, but now handles fewer than 200.

This reduction in supply is directly correlated with rising prices for residents of Albade, exacerbating an already critical food crisis. Gum arabic and sesame, traditionally important trade goods, are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive.

National Food Security Crisis & Malnutrition Levels

The conflict has had a devastating impact on Sudan’s overall food security. The nearly three-year-long war has “decimated the economy” and pushed approximately half of the population into hunger and famine. Recent reports from the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicate that acute malnutrition has reached famine levels in two additional areas of North Darfur.

The Global Hunger Monitor confirms that the conflict has “severely disrupted food production and supply lines” specifically in the Greater Kordofan region. Across the country, cases of acute malnutrition are demonstrably increasing.

Lack of Response & Ongoing Threat

The RSF has not responded to requests for comment regarding the drone strike on the Albade market. This lack of accountability highlights the ongoing threat to civilian infrastructure and economic activity. The situation in Albade serves as a microcosm of the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding across Sudan, where conflict and supply chain disruptions are driving widespread hunger and malnutrition.

Synthesis

The Albade market exemplifies the devastating consequences of the Sudanese civil war. The combination of direct attacks on infrastructure, significant supply chain disruptions, and a pre-existing food crisis has created a dire situation for both market workers and the wider population. The reported decline in produce volume, coupled with rising malnutrition rates, underscores the urgent need for humanitarian intervention and a resolution to the conflict to prevent further deterioration of food security in Sudan.