The city of Kassala, in eastern Sudan, is witnessing an unprecedented wave of organized crime and lawlessness, coinciding with a sharp decline in basic services and a skyrocketing cost of living. This has caused widespread public discontent and anxiety among residents, who now feel their daily lives are under direct threat.
In recent days, field reports and citizen testimonies have documented how national and secondary roads around the city have become danger zones, with repeated incidents of shootings aimed at looting. The most recent of these incidents occurred on the “Al-Qarf” road in the western countryside, where two people were shot by gunmen who chased their vehicle with the intent to rob them.
Armed Robbery
This incident is not an isolated one; it was preceded one day earlier by the death of merchant Nasr al-Din Ali Abdullah, who succumbed to his injuries after being subjected to an armed robbery while driving his vehicle (a tuk-tuk).
In an incident described as serious, an entire medical team of eight members was subjected to an armed robbery in the “Malwiya” area, after a masked gang stripped them of their phones, medical equipment, and personal computers before fleeing.
New Patterns of Crime
City residents point to the emergence of organized crime patterns, including what is known as the “Nine Long Gangs,” which are active in kidnappings and nighttime robberies, particularly in West Bank areas.
Citizens believe there is a clear gap in the enforcement of security authority, which has emboldened armed groups to carry out their operations in broad daylight and on major roads, amid urgent calls for the Ministry of the Interior and the Sudanese police to intervene immediately to restore order to the streets.
The tension in Kassala is not limited to security concerns; the city is experiencing a severe “service crisis.” Residents complain of power outages lasting for hours, which in turn has led to a dire drinking water crisis.
In the transportation sector, bus drivers went on strike to demand higher fares to cover rising operating costs, leading to a partial paralysis of commuter and student traffic between the city’s neighborhoods.
A Complex Economic Reality
Economically, basic commodities have reached record highs; the price of a cooking gas cylinder has hit 86,000 pounds, and the price of a gallon of gasoline has surpassed 41,000 pounds, which has directly impacted food prices.
This complex reality on the ground clashes with official statements; while local authorities announced in early May “unprecedented security stability” and an improvement in economic conditions, they also announced plans for major development projects.
However, the facts on the ground confirm that citizens in Kassala face security and livelihood challenges that require a rapid response strategy moving beyond paper promises to practical solutions on the ground, to prevent the city from sliding into “total chaos.”
