Protest against Customs post move in Sudan’s far north

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Wadi Halfa in Sudan’s Northern State today, to protest a decision to move the Customs post at Argeen to the city of Dongola, about 450 kilometres upstream.

Wadi Halfa lies on the banks of Lake Nubia, which runs into Lake Nasser on the Sudan-Egypt border. The customs post at Argeen on the lake’s opposite bank has traditionally been an important source of revenue and employment for the city. Over the past years, roads have been improved on both sides of the border to facilitate crossings.

On Thursday, ‘several hundred’ citizens took to the streets to protest and condemn the transfer of the Customs post. The protestors accused the state authorities of trying to control the customs and revenue services that Argeen benefits from.

The peaceful demonstration marched across the city to hand a memorandum to the state government offices. The memorandum gives the government until 6 October to reverse the decision and reinstate the Argeen Customs post.