Although the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, sits on the southern bank of the Blue Nile, thirst continues to plague its residents, while prices across Sudan have jumped to unprecedented levels.

Since 2025, the army based in Port Sudan has controlled the city. Civilians there are suffering from a general collapse of services, the spread of epidemics, and a lack of healthcare amid the fierce war that has been ongoing since mid-April 2023.

In this city, animal-drawn carts have become a common sight on most streets. Women and children walk long distances carrying pots in search of safe drinking water, amidst growing fears of diseases linked to pollution and a lack of healthy alternatives.

Mohamed Saeed, a local resident, says that a barrel of water “now costs about 7,000 pounds within Khartoum State.” He stressed that citizens have become victims of government policies: “People are forced to find services themselves, yet the authorities do not leave them alone, imposing unbearable fees and taxes if they try to make a living in the markets.”

Al-Tayeb Bilal, an owner of a water transport cart, explained that the crisis has worsened significantly due to constant power outages, which have caused water stations in many areas to break down. He told Asharq Al-Awsat:

“Sometimes I spend more than ten hours waiting to get a barrel of water that I buy for 5,000 Sudanese pounds (about $1). I then sell it for about 20,000 pounds ($4) according to parallel market prices, just to cover transportation costs and my daily effort.”

The Oufouq Jadid newspaper reported that long queues form at dawn in front of the few available water carts and wells. Residents carry their containers, hoping to get just enough water for a single day.

“In a city exhausted by war, high prices, and collapsed services, water is no longer a basic service; it has become a daily battle for survival that drains families’ remaining endurance,” the newspaper stated.

The report emphasized that the war in Khartoum is no longer measured only by the number of shells or the sound of bullets, but by the hours people spend searching for water. As the conflict enters its fourth year, daily life has turned into a grueling journey between thirst and darkness, as long electricity cuts have paralyzed pumping stations and worsened the water crisis in residential neighborhoods.

Another Crisis: Blackouts and Infrastructure Damage

Meanwhile, civilians in Khartoum are suffering from high summer temperatures amid long power cuts that last up to 20 hours a day. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Sudan’s electricity sector has suffered massive losses and damages estimated at $3 billion since the war broke out in April 2023, severely worsening the blackout crisis across vast areas.

Citizens from Khartoum, Kassala, and the Red Sea State told Sudan Tribune that they are enduring harsh living conditions due to frequent power cuts. Reports indicate that Bahri (Khartoum North) experiences daily power outages lasting between 8 and 10 hours.

Economic analyst Abdulazim Al-Mahal noted that “the frequency of electricity and water cuts has noticeably escalated in most Sudanese cities, even though both services are essential for daily life.”

He explained that the crisis is caused by several factors:

  • Low water levels and high consumption during the summer.
  • Ongoing maintenance issues.
  • Continuous drone attacks targeting power stations.
  • A massive deficit in Sudan’s electricity production.

This comes after the Sudanese Founding Coalition forces (“Ta’sees”) accused the Port Sudan-based army of bombing and burning the Khartoum Bahri thermal power station, one of the largest power plants in the country.

In an official statement, the coalition accused extremist Islamic Movement brigades and their elements within the army of deliberately destroying the facility. The statement described the bombing of the Bahri thermal station as a criminal and terrorist act, claiming it exposes the despair and frustration of “Al-Burhan’s militias and the Islamic Movement brigades” following continuous defeats on all fronts.

An Economic Crisis

The Sudanese pound recorded the largest drop in its history against the US dollar on Monday, with the exchange rate in the parallel market reaching about 5,500 pounds per dollar. Observers say this reflects the depth of the country’s economic and monetary crisis amid the ongoing war, worsening financial imbalances, and a loss of confidence in economic policies.

Reports indicate that Khartoum is currently living through one of its worst economic crises. The local currency continues to decline, and the prices of goods and services are soaring, sparking demands for urgent intervention to halt the deteriorating living conditions. The prices of flour and cooking gas have seen unprecedented increases, placing severe operational challenges on bakery owners.

This happens as purchasing power drops to record lows. Field data shows growing public dissatisfaction with the performance of the Port Sudan authority and the continuation of the war.

Political analyst Fayez Al-Silaik stated that “integrating the Sudanese economy into the global economy has become extremely difficult under the current circumstances.” He pointed out that:

  • The path of isolation began with the October 2021 coup against civilian rule, when international financial institutions froze their relations and support programs.
  • Several countries and institutions halted steps aimed at relieving Sudan of its foreign debt, dealing a heavy blow to efforts to reintegrate the country into the global economy.
  • The outbreak of the war made the crisis significantly worse.

Al-Silaik added that the classification of “Sudan’s Muslim Brotherhood” as a terrorist group in several countries has further complicated the Port Sudan authority’s position. This has weakened its chances of restoring international trust or attracting foreign support and investments. He noted that the doors to global integration appear almost completely closed to Sudan unless major changes occur—most importantly, ending the war and returning to civilian rule.

Departure as a National Necessity

Meanwhile, commentator Zimaz Ali Riri argued that the departure of army commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan “is no longer just a political demand, but has become a national necessity. His continued presence at the head of the military authority obstructs all attempts to end the war and delays the process of building a civilian state.”

She pointed out that his exit could open the door to a new, more comprehensive and flexible settlement based on a unified national vision that ends the division and restores trust in state institutions.

Riri continued:

“General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan’s failure to manage the transitional period and the subsequent war is no longer a matter of debate among observers of Sudanese affairs. The indicators on the ground—from economic collapse to humanitarian deterioration and the regime’s growing isolation—confirm that his remaining in power no longer reflects a national will, but rather a stubborn insistence on clinging to his seat regardless of the consequences.”

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