Residents of El Fasher town in North Darfur State are grappling with a prolonged communication network outage, now in its tenth day, exacerbating the challenges faced by the community. Some families have resorted to searching for Wi-Fi networks as a means of staying in touch, although such options are scarce in the city.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Saturday, Mohammed Adam, a displaced person from Abu Shouk camp, emphasized the impact of the communication disruption on their lives. “The majority of families have come to rely on financial transfers through the Bankak (Bank app) service,” Adam said, and added that, “Given the closure of banks in the city since the onset of the crisis in Sudan and, specifically, in El Fasher, people have no access to financial services.”
Adam explained that the region’s infrastructure has suffered extensive damage and devastation due to the ongoing conflict.
“The communications outage from last Wednesday until Saturday has worsened the economic situation for families, compounded by the inability to communicate with their relatives,” explained Adam. “The situation is particularly challenging as families navigate not only economic difficulties but also the emotional strain of being unable to connect with their loved ones during this critical time.”
Housna Adam Ahmed, a resident of El Fasher, revealed the challenges she has encountered during the ten-day communication blackout, preventing her from reaching relatives outside North Darfur. “The economic impact has been substantial due to the halt in bank transfers caused by the ongoing interruption of the communications network in the city,” Housna added.
El Fasher is currently experiencing a complete outage of the Sudani, Zain, and MTN networks, lasting exactly 10 days. Despite the prolonged disruption, these companies have not provided any explanation.
Conflicting reports within the city suggest varying reasons for the communication breakdown. Some sources attribute it to a technical malfunction, while others speculate it could be linked to security concerns amid renewed clashes in the region.
Recent fighting between opposing sides has heightened tensions, and efforts to obtain comments from officials at Sudani, Zain, and MTN telecommunication companies have been unsuccessful. The lack of communication infrastructure not only hampers residents’ daily lives but also contributes to the uncertainty surrounding the situation in El Fasher.
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