The prices of foodstuff and sacrificial sheep have soared in a number of states in war-torn Sudan ahead of the Eid Al-Adha celebrations.
Muslims around the globe are gearing up for Eid al-Adha, the second ‘major’ Eid celebration of the Islamic calendar.
The celebration of Eid al-Adha is to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, several citizens in several states said Sudanese hoping to buy a sheep to slaughter for Islam’s Eid Al-Adha festival this weekend are facing much higher prices because of the economic crisis driven by the ongoing war.
Abdul Hamid Abdullah, a government employee, said that the prices increase was being experienced across the stable states, and was occasioned by the decline in the supplies.
“As the supplies decrease because of the war, the prices increase. The suspension of many people’s salaries, both in the public and the private sectors, has made the situation worse,” he said.
Economic analyst Mohammad Mustafa said the prices had risen due to the rise in the currency exchange rates and the lack of food supplies due to the disruption of transport and production.
Most livestock come from the Kordofan and Darfur regions, which have been affected by the ongoing war.
Mustafa said that the bad roads and the insecurity had made livestock traders to hold back for fear of looting of their stock.