Arrests at post-prayer demo in West Kordofan

On Monday evening, the security services in El Khawi in West Kordofan arrested four youths during a protest rally condemning the rise of prices and lack of drinking water, fuel and gas.

The demonstration followed the Taraweeh prayers that are performed after breaking the fast of Ramadan. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga from El Khawi that the protesters marched through the town and the market after prayers, condemning the rise of prices and lack of water and fuel.

A resident who participated in the demonstration told Radio Dabanga that the security forces intervened, broke up the demonstration, held Mohamed Adam Fadlallah, El Hadi Adam Abulamin, Mohamed El Khatim Seifeldin, and El Tayeb Ahmed Abdelhadi and took them to the security apparatus buildings. They were reportedly released on Tuesday after spending a day in detention.

Residents of El Khawi said that the locality is experiencing a severe shortage of drinking water due to lack of fuel, which has led to the death of a large number of goats and sheep from thirst.

Residents of the village of Iyal Bakheet and Um Marahik, a neighbouring town in East Darfur known as ‘the thirst triangle’, had moved their cattle to the tents of El Khawi because of stop of the water stations due to lack of fuel.

He said that the price of a barrel of water has amounted to SDG 100 (*$3.55), a gallon of petrol SDG 300 ($10.66) and a gallon of diesel 200 ($7.10).

He explained that the price of a ticket for one passenger travelling from El Khawi to El Obeid has amounted to SDG 300 ($10.66).

* Based on the indicative US Dollar rate quoted by the Central Bank of Sudan