Thousands of government workers in Sudan’s North Darfur State, already grappling with the ongoing war, are facing extreme poverty aggravated by the non-payment of their salaries.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Khaled Ishaq, a 49-year-old government employee in El Fasher, shared the dire situation, stating, “The failure to pay salaries for seven months has had a detrimental impact on many families in Sudan, particularly in El Fasher. Many families have lost their relatives due to migration and now struggle to find support.”
Ishaq added that some families have been forced to seek shelter in displacement camps in the capital of North Darfur due to the living conditions created by the war and the absence of salary payments.
Ibrahim Ali Shab, a 38-year-old employee in the water sector, highlighted the adverse effects of the salary delay, particularly on the water sector, which has also been hit by instability stemming from fuel and electricity shortages. He emphasized the psychological toll of the war on employees, in addition to the economic challenges.
“I hoped that the war would end so that the country could experience stable and peaceful security conditions,” Ibrahim expressed.
Since the outbreak of war in Sudan, El Fasher has witnessed violent clashes multiple times, resulting in casualties, internal displacement, and hundreds fleeing to neighbouring areas.
The head of the High Council for Culture and Information in North Darfur State and the government spokesperson confirmed that civil servants have not received salaries for six months. He noted that the Ministry of Finance has now begun disbursing 60% of their salaries, describing it as a step in the right direction.
However, a source at the Ministry of Civil Service and Insurance, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the crisis primarily affects thousands of employees in El Fasher itself, unlike other localities in North Darfur state. The exact number of employees who received 60% of their April salary out of an estimated 40,000 remains unclear.