For years, Hamdan Safi Al-Noor, a sheep trader, roamed between livestock markets in Kordofan and Darfur, purchasing select numbers of sheep and transporting them via well-established routes to the main markets in the capital, Khartoum, and Wad Madani in Al-Jazirah FState. On rare occasions, though it happened more than once, Hamdan would transport sheep to the Northern State without difficulty.
Seventeen months after the war broke out in mid-April last year between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), however, the routes and paths livestock traders used between states and export points have changed. The market landscape itself has also transformed, with new markets emerging, others shutting down, and some pre-existing ones expanding significantly.
These changes accompanied the course of the war, which has devoured one region after another. Consequently, the livestock sector, one of Sudan’s richest natural resources, has been affected in an unprecedented way. Recent estimates by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) indicate that Sudan ranks third among African nations in terms of livestock numbers.
Before the war, livestock markets were interconnected across Sudan’s various states. Small markets in production areas, where herds were directly supplied by pastoralists, were linked to larger markets through small-scale traders.
“Small markets often emerge in remote villages and rural areas near grazing sites, where herders bring in small numbers of sheep, ranging from one to five heads, based on each herder’s immediate financial needs,” Hamdan Safi Al-Noor, a livestock merchant in the country, explained to Atar the process of gathering livestock from small markets until their numbers accumulate for larger markets.
From these markets, small traders buy sheep, then transport them to larger markets. In these bigger markets, sales occur between smaller traders and those with more substantial capital who can afford to purchase several thousand heads. Afterward, the livestock is transported to major markets, where some are consumed domestically, while others are sold to exporters involved in the livestock trade.
Exporters, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, revealed that certain parties within the Ministry of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce complete all export procedures for modest fees, ranging between 50,000 and 60,000 Sudanese pounds per head, including shipping costs from Port Sudan to Jeddah
Several exporters told Atar that livestock exports to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have significantly increased during the war. Exporters, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, revealed that certain parties within the Ministry of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce complete all export procedures for modest fees, ranging between 50,000 and 60,000 Sudanese pounds per head, including shipping costs from Port Sudan to Jeddah.
Atar obtained information indicating that some individuals lease their export licenses to exporters and livestock traders, handling all procedures on their behalf, which have been significantly streamlined compared to the previous year.
In March, Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim announced, in a press statement, that livestock exports had risen in 2023 compared to 2022, despite the ongoing war. Livestock exports amounted to 4.72 million heads.
The Ministry of Finance had previously demanded that livestock exporters pay export proceeds in advance before shipment, claiming that exporters were increasingly evading their financial obligations to the ministry.
Before the outbreak of the April war, livestock trade routes had been well-established for many years, clearly traceable through detailed maps outlining markets in production areas and transport routes toward consumption markets in under-producing states, leading to export points on the Red Sea. Among the most renowned regions in Sudan for traditional livestock herding are areas in the states of Kordofan, Darfur, White Nile, and Blue Nile.
Ibrahim Al-Rashid, a livestock trader operating between the markets of Darfur, West Kordofan, and the Kandahar market in Omdurman, says that before the war, traders followed known routes when transporting livestock from production areas to consumption markets.
“The main commercial hub for the Darfur and West Kordofan regions was Al-Khuwei market in West Kordofan State, which was held every Tuesday,” Ibrahim told Atar.
Established in 1992, Al-Khuwei market receives between 200,000 and 300,000 heads of livestock weekly. It serves not only as an export market but also fulfills domestic consumption needs across various parts of Sudan.
Ibrahim added that small traders and exporters from within and outside Sudan used to visit Al-Khuwei market, as it was considered the “stock exchange” for determining livestock prices.
Meanwhile, Umm Rawaba market in North Kordofan State and Tandalti market in White Nile State were key centres for livestock traders and herders from North and South Kordofan, as well as vast areas of White Nile State.
In the past, western and central regions of Sudan were the preferred areas for livestock traders. However, Ar-Rawat and Al-Miqeenis regions in White Nile State, as well as Boot area in Blue Nile State, have recently garnered significant attention from many traders. Bakheet Yousif, a trader in Tandalti market who has contracts with commercial entities in Saudi Arabia, mentioned that for the first time, he has begun purchasing livestock from Ar-Rawat area in White Nile State.
“I always used to buy flocks from Darfur and Kordofan due to the quality of their herds. But after the war, and the inability to reach grazing areas and markets in Al-Khuwei and Umm Rawaba, I turned to purchasing from Ar-Rawat and Al-Miqeenis markets in White Nile State,” Bakheet told Atar.
Bakheet used to transport the livestock he gathered via Jabal Moya road to Kassala and Port Sudan. However, after the RSF took control of the region, he now transports them to Tandalti, taking rough and unpaved roads through As-Shigeiq area west of Ad-Diweem, all the way to the city of Ad-Dabba in Northern State, then to Atbara and Port Sudan.
The transportation routes for livestock have become increasingly complex, and traders now negotiate in every direction. In addition to government fees and the high exchange rate, traders pay between one and two million Sudanese pounds to RSF patrols scattered along the routes. These patrols often escort transport vehicles until they leave areas under RSF control.
Bakheet told Atar that transportation operations have become prolonged and costly, aside from the threat to traders’ lives and assets.
“Traders sometimes find themselves caught in war zones, exposed to looting by armed gangs in areas where official authority has receded,” he said.
Hamdan Safi Al-Noor, who used to trade between small markets in Darfur, West Kordofan, and the Kandahar market in Khartoum, has shifted his commercial activity to the Boot area in Blue Nile State and Kassala State.
new markets have emerged in Blue Nile State, which have significantly revived commercial activity, prompting a number of livestock traders to relocate their businesses to Kassala and Blue Nile States
He says that new markets have emerged in Blue Nile State, which have significantly revived commercial activity, prompting a number of livestock traders to relocate their businesses to Kassala and Blue Nile States.
According to Hamdan, livestock trade routes have changed dramatically, as control over national roads alternates between the warring parties. Livestock that was once transported by trucks from Blue Nile State is now herded on foot for two to three weeks to the city of Al- Gadarif, where it is then loaded onto trucks.
As for livestock from Darfur and West Kordofan, the RSF’s incursion into Al-Khuwei in July forced the closure of this crucial market, leading to direct transportation of livestock from Darfur through the towns of Milliet and Ad-Dabba. Ad-Dabba market itself now receives thousands of heads of livestock.
The Umm Rawaba market also ceased operations after the city fell under RSF control in August 2023. As a result, traders moved their livestock to Tandalti market, which has become the new hub for domestic and foreign sheep trade.
Abdelnour Al-Amin, a livestock trader in Umm Rawaba market, revealed that traders moved more than 460,000 heads of sheep intended for export from Umm Rawaba market to Tandalti. The latter has expanded beyond the size of the Kandahar market in Omdurman, according to Abdelnour. He explained that commercial activity in the livestock sector shifted to Tandalti after about seven markets were forced to close due to RSF control. These markets included Um Aush, Shirkaila south of Khur Abu Habil, Abu Qur east of El-Obeid, Umm Sumaima, Umm Siqaoun, Al-Abbasiya Tagali, and Wad Ashana east of Umm Rawaba.
The new routes and pathways now take significantly longer to reach their final destinations. Abdelrahim Abdel Baqi, who works in the Kassala market, noted that livestock from Kordofan and White Nile takes about a month to reach Kassala, especially with the road closures during the rainy season. When the roads are dry, the journey takes about 14 days, compared to only three days before the war. Abdelrahim told Atar that the new transportation fees have become a burden on their trade, as transporting a single head of sheep now costs more than 100,000 Sudanese pounds, compared to approximately 10,000 to 17,000 pounds before the war.
The new changes have also affected the herders themselves.
Dafallah Hamad from North Kordofan says the closure of markets and the establishment of new ones has caused immense suffering for herders, as some of the new markets are far from production areas and grazing lands. He pointed out that herders now exert tremendous effort to reach the markets. Previously, small weekly markets were widespread in villages and rural areas, but many have ceased operations due to the war and widespread insecurity.
The closure of banks and the lack of cash in many parts of the country have also caused great hardship for both traders and herders. Sales are now conducted at two different prices: one for cash and another via the “Bankak” mobile transfer app. Dafallah says herders often prefer to sell for cash due to poor or interrupted communication networks and non-functional banks. Cash sales are typically lower than sales through the “Bankak” app.
This issue also affects traders. Abdelnour Hamdan, who operates between the towns of Boot and Kassala, says they are forced to buy the cash firstly, due to the difficulty of banking transfers. They then purchase livestock from herders and small traders in cash.
Abdelnour adds that, in the past, traders would travel to production areas and peripheral markets carrying only a small amount of cash, as they could withdraw any needed funds from the nearest bank or exchange office. Now, however, they have to buy cash from money dealers, whose trade has flourished in the new markets.
