Suppliers and sellers of onions in markets across North Darfur State’s capital El Fasher have said the ongoing war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has made them incur colossal losses.
Families in El Fasher have also complained about skyrocketing onion prices in the markets, with the price of one bucket now peaking at 10,000 Sudanese Pounds from 3,000 pounds in March.
One sack of onions which used to cost 25,000 Sudanese Pounds before the war now sells at 85,000 pounds.
Babiker Adam Osman, an onion trader in El-Fasher’s Naivasha market, told Radio Tamazuj that they have been severely affected by the war.
He explained that the price hike happened because some onion crops were set on fire during clashes between the warring parties, high taxation fees charged by many security operatives along the way to the market, and disruption of agriculture.
Osman said he lost more than 18 Billion Sudanese Pounds in the Abu Shouk market during the confrontation between the army and RSF.
“About 700 sacks of onions were burned in the market and an entire shipment containing 300 sacks was taken away by unknown gunmen along the El Obeid –El Fasher Road,” he narrated. “That is besides another 100 sacks that were also looted between Um Kadada and El Fasher recently.”
Osman said some of his onion farms have not been cultivated, stating, “Workers no longer feel secure to go and work in the farm due to insecurity.”
Another merchant, Yaqoub Mohammed Adam, confirmed that the war greatly exacerbated their conditions in North Darfur, pointing out that many onion-producing areas like Martal, Tawila, Kabkabiya, and Kutum have been severely affected by the war.
Adam also complained about the multiple and high taxation along the roads which he said, “Led to the high prices of onion in the market.”
“The ongoing insecurity is the main cause of the high prices in the market,” he said. “Citizens do not have any say.”