Security permit imposed on commercial transports in West Kordofan

Merchants and traders in West Kordofan complain about the imposition of a permit for transporting their goods in the state. In El Gedaref state, eastern Sudan, and Khartoum people are protesting against the confiscation of their lands.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga from the capital El Fula, a trader reported that the West Kordofan state authorities issued an order stipulating a permit from the security service for the transport of goods within the state. “Many of us have been fined, and saw their goods confiscated by the security forces.”

“Last week, for instance, security officers confiscated the load of Abdelbagi El Bushra. He was fined SDG20,000 ($3,480) for transporting 55 100kg sacks of sorghum from El Managil, in El Gezira state, to Babanusa without obtaining a permit from El Gezira security.”

The trader urged the authorities to lift the restrictions on commercial movement.

Land confiscated

In El Gedaref state, the villagers of Garya Ashara, El Faw locality, entered into an open sit-in on Saturday. They set up tents in front of the locality’s administrative unit, and protest with loudspeakers and banners against what they consider the unlawful confiscation of their lands by the authorities.

According to the residents of Burri El Lamab district in Khartoum, their lands have been illegally sold to investors. They said that they will defend their rights, and will bring their case to the press.