Sudan Transit Costs: Fares Jump as Fuel Lines Stretch

Commuters in Sudan now pay more to ride public transport as drivers struggle to keep their vehicles on the road. The Sudan Transport Chambers Union, which oversees public and private transit, approved fare increases this month. Intercity bus tickets rose by 40%, while minibus fares went up by 30%. The changes come as fuel shortages force drivers to spend more time waiting for petrol and less time driving.

In Port Sudan, 60-year-old driver Azhari Mohamed operates a minibus between the Shagar neighborhood and the city center. He transports eight passengers per trip and makes seven round trips daily. His shift runs from 6am to 9pm. His vehicle consumes three gallons, or 11 liters, of petrol each day. At the parallel market rate of $11.30 per gallon, this daily fuel cost stands at 105,000 Sudanese pounds. Because supply is unreliable, Mohamed works two days and spends a third waiting in line. Some waits last over five hours. Occasionally, the petrol runs out before he reaches the pump, requiring him to rejoin the queue at the back.

Fuel prices vary by location. A gallon costs 40,000 pounds, or $4.30, in Gazira State south of Khartoum. In Port Sudan, the price is 35,000 pounds, or $3.80. After covering operating costs, Mohamed retains approximately 50,000 pounds, or $5.40, per day. He uses this income to support his wife and a daughter attending university. He told Al Jazeera, "We just need fuel to be available so we can work."

The fare hikes place a heavy burden on passengers. Aziza Ibrahim, a 38-year-old cleaner in Port Sudan, supports four children. She has reduced her work schedule to three days a week due to travel expenses. Before the war began, her round trip to the city center station cost 700 pounds. Fares on various routes now range from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds. Her daily transport cost is 11,000 pounds, or $1.18. This amount consumes nearly half of her monthly salary of 400,000 pounds, which is equivalent to $43. She also pays for diabetes treatment and sometimes borrows money to get to work, repaying it upon receiving her pay.

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces started on April 15, 2023. The United Nations Development Programme reports that average incomes have fallen to levels last seen in the 1990s. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum estimated war-related losses at $20 billion last year. The World Bank noted that attacks on the Balila oil field disrupted supplies to the Khartoum refinery. This refinery previously met about 60% of the national demand for petrol and liquefied petroleum gas.

Sudan now relies on imports for fuel, a challenge compounded by a global energy crisis. Economic analyst Sidi Ohaj stated that government rules for importers have worsened the shortage. Importers must deposit 200kg of gold in the Central Bank and own fuel storage facilities. Some failed to meet these requirements and exited the market. Ohaj said this reduced supply relative to demand. He urged the government to ease import procedures. He also cited drone attacks on infrastructure and the ongoing war between the United States and Iran as factors disrupting global energy markets.

Businesses face rising costs as well. Ahmed al-Haj, a trader in Omdurman market who packages skincare products, reported that higher diesel and petrol prices have increased the cost of moving a tonne of goods by 30 to 50 percent. He passes these costs on to consumers. Power cuts force him to use fuel-powered generators, further raising daily expenses. Local deliveries in Omdurman that previously cost 5,000 pounds now range from 10,000 to 12,000 pounds. Delivering to other states has become difficult. Al-Haj said transport workers are making fewer trips, causing goods to accumulate at traders' premises.

The transport union’s new fare structure is effective now. Drivers continue to manage their schedules around fuel availability. Traders adjust their pricing to cover distribution costs. Passengers in Port Sudan and other cities pay the higher rates for their daily commutes. The next step in the regulatory process will determine if further adjustments are needed as fuel supply conditions evolve.