High custom fees on ‘Boko Haram cars’ in North Darfur

North Darfur owners of vehicles imported from West Africa are complaining about high custom fees.

“The North Darfur authorities imposed SDG8,000 ($1,125) for a saloon passenger car and between SDG10,000 and SDG12,000 ($1,835) for a four-wheel drive vehicle imported from Chad, Niger, and a number of West African countries,” a listener told Radio Dabanga from the capital El Fasher.

“In comparison, the South Darfur customs department imposes between SDG1,000 and SDG3,000 ($460) for an imported four-wheel drive.”

The source explained that as the cars are often smuggled into Sudan “from the west”, they became known as Boko Haram cars.

In attempts to curb the rampant insecurity in Darfur in the past years, the authorities imposed a number of measures, including a ban on unregistered vehicles (imported or militia-owned), the wearing of a turban covering the face (kadamool), the carrying of weapons by civilians.