New report on exports and imports from the Central Bank of Sudan
The Central Bank of Sudan has issued a statistical brief on foreign trade for the first quarter (January–March) 2025.
According to the brief, the country’s exports in the quarter totaled $704.1 million, while imports amounted to $1.31 billion, leaving a trade deficit of about $608.7 million, a gap that remains significant for the economy.
Gold exports exceeded their quarterly average from the previous year, rising to $449.5 million from a 2024 quarterly average of $392.5 million.
Sudan’s gold shipments to the United Arab Emirates were valued at $395.8 million.
Wheat imports fell to $52.9 million from a prior quarterly average of $64.3 million, and milled wheat flour imports declined further to $59.7 million from an average of roughly $79.3 million in last year’s quarters, which may indicate some mills have restored part of their capacity.
Protests against cyanide use in Kaloqi
SOUTH KORDOFAN- Residents of Kaloqi in the Quadir locality joined a demonstration on Monday, August 11, organized by the “Against Cyanide Committee” demanding an end to the use of the toxic chemical in local mining.
Protesters gave the executive director a 48-hour deadline to stop company operations.
The rally followed the committee’s rejection of a local authority proposal to hold a popular referendum on whether mining companies should continue in the area.
Since May 17, more than 50 companies have begun operations and were ordered to complete the remediation of mining waste accumulated since 2010, the state’s director of the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company Warsha Nasser Warsha said, confirming that the firms hold official contracts signed with the Ministry of Minerals.
A resident told Atar in an earlier report that the companies held several meetings with traditional leaders and convinced them they would deliver development services if allowed to begin exploration. On that basis, traditional authorities signed agreements permitting the firms to operate. Another government source told Atar the companies that arrived in Kaloqi and Leri this time did not come in civilian clothes as in previous occasions.
Al-Fashir and Abu Shouk hit by deadly assaults
NORTH DARFUR- Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, and the Abu Shouk camp to its north were struck in a new assault by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Monday, August 11. The RSF attacked the city from three directions, most heavily from the northeast toward the Abu Shouk camp, using artillery bombardment, armed drones, unmanned vehicles and four-wheel-drive pickup convoys. The camp’s northern blocks saw summary killings of dozens of civilians. The camp mayor told Atar that the raid killed at least 44 people and left others with serious wounds.
New campaigns to clear “informal housing” in Khartoum and Northern State
KHARTOUM, NORTHERN STATE- Khartoum’s Land Protection and Violations Removal Agency announced on Wednesday, August 13, a new operation to clear informal housing sites in Marsa Shambat in Bahri locality.
The move follows a warning that ordered residents to leave the area within 72 hours, issued on Sunday, August 10. The campaign continues similar operations the authorities have carried out across Khartoum and Al-Jazirah states.
In Northern State, both the state land protection agency and Dongola locality launched a clearance drive to reorganize the Dongola market and remove violations there. The state director general for infrastructure and urban development inspected the area on August 13.
Civilians killed in RSF drone strike on Tamboul
AL-JAZIRAH- A drone linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck a celebration held by Sudan Shield forces marking the 71st Armed Forces Day in Tamboul, al-Jazirah state, on Wednesday, August 13. Sudan Tribune reported that the strike killed three people and wounded ten others.
Thousands displaced in North Kordofan seek new shelter
NORTH KORDOFAN- Thousands of families have fled to the city of Al-Obeid, the North Kordofan state capital, after attacks on 42 villages near Um Samima, the state’s humanitarian commissioner told Sudan Tribune.
The commissioner said the number of the displaced in Al-Obeid has risen to roughly 700,000, about 135,000 families
Local sources said these families are staying in temporary shelters and schools in the city and were given five days to leave those sites.
The government has not provided any clear housing alternatives. A medical source working in one of the camps told Atar that life-supporting services are absent in the temporary camps: dozens of families share a single latrine, creating conditions for disease outbreaks.
RSF’ Wave of Violations Leads to the Displacement of Barah Residents
NORTH DARFUR- The city of Barah has witnessed a wave of violations in recent days, resulting in the displacement of residents to Omdurman, Shikan locality, and the villages under its jurisdiction. A displaced resident told Atar that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)’ attacks were primarily aimed at theft and were often accompanied by direct killings or gunfire at victims, making them deadly acts of violence targeting both lives and property simultaneously.
He added that the forces committing the violations in and around Barah were not the same as those present since the start of the war, but rather new RSF units that came from Omdurman after withdrawing from there following their retreat. He stated that the RSF members kill anyone who attempts to resist or object, in addition to arresting those suspected of collaborating with the Sudanese Armed Forces, making remaining in the area life-threatening and forcing residents to flee en masse.
Residents sought refuge in neighboring villages, but these villages later suffered similar violations, including killings and the complete burning of villages. As a result, people were compelled to continue fleeing to more distant locations such as Khartoum and Al-Obeid, as well as to villages where no RSF presence exists.
New report on refugee numbers in Sudan
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has released a report on refugees in Sudan through the end of July 2025.
According to the report, Sudan hosts 889,330 refugees, most from South Sudan, numbering 661,958, about 74.4 per cent of the total.
Those from Eritrea are137, 784 or 15.5 per cent of the total and 70,209 from Ethiopia.
In addition, there are 18,267 refugees from other countries, including Syria, the Central African Republic, Chad and Yemen. 69 per cent of these refugees live in camps, and 77 per cent have official registration.
Since February, Sudan received 178,000 people from South Sudan after rising clashes there: roughly 60,000 are South Sudanese refugees and about 118,000 are Sudanese returnees to Blue Nile and White Nile states.
Takaya kitchens in Al-Fashir halts donations; other kitchens struggle to continue
NORTH DARFUR- The Takeya kitchen in Al-Fashir has announced it stopped collecting donations after it could not secure supplies amid a siege and scarce deliveries that afflict the city.
Other takeyas and kitchens, however, continue to operate and provide small amounts of millet and sorghum despite shortages. These include Hay Al-Ziyadiya Kitchen, Takeya Matbakh Al-Khair, Ma’arif Mafquda Kitchen and the Qouma Banat Al-Fashir Initiative. The city faces a severe shortage of food due to the siege imposed by Rapid Support Forces.
Universities in Khartoum revived by their students
KHARTOUM- Various student and alumni groups at Khartoum universities have launched campaigns to rehabilitate campuses. On August 3, architecture students and staff at the University of Khartoum began an initiative to repair and clean their faculty facilities. August 6 was the second day; the effort drew 90 participants and has carried out four days of maintenance across faculties such as engineering and mathematical sciences, and volunteers donated tools and materials locally.
On August 6, a group of Bahri University students announced the formation of the “Rebuilding Bahri University Initiative,” and staff from the university’s human resources and development centre ran a campaign to clean yards, facilities and offices. Students at Alzaiem Alazhari University also launched an initiative, with activities starting on Aug. 13.
Sudan national football team beats Nigeria 4-0 in CHAN
An image circulating on social media platforms
ZANZIBAR- The Sudan national football team earned a deserved and convincing 4-0 victory on Tuesday over Nigeria at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, Tanzanian, in the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN). The win put Sudan top of its group on goal difference over Senegal.
Forward Abdelraouf Yagoub, who scored twice for Sudan, was named man of the match.
Sudan’s group includes Senegal, Congo and Nigeria. The game was the second-round fixture in Group D of the CHAN finals, following Sudan’s 1-1 draw in the opening match against Congo.
