Protesters block Sudan highway over power cuts as heatwave strikes
August 1, 2026 (PORT SUDAN) – Protesters on Saturday continued blocking parts of the main highway connecting Port Sudan to the capital Khartoum in the Suakin and Gebeit areas of Red Sea State, extending a blockade that began on Friday over severe power cuts.
The demonstrations come as an intense heatwave grips the region, prompting calls for urgent government action to restore power.
Red Sea State is experiencing high temperatures, forcing some families to flee to cooler regions while most residents remain to face conditions made worse by daily power outages.
Local residents told Sudan Tribune that electricity cuts have directly disrupted basic services and daily life during the heat. The prolonged crisis led dozens to take to the streets and block the primary road linking Port Sudan to central parts of the country.
A protester in Suakin, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Sudan Tribune that blackouts last up to 12 hours a day. He said residents could no longer endure the heat without power and demanded an immediate fix to end their hardship.
He criticized the government for ignoring the electricity crisis, adding that several areas across Red Sea State have suffered from rolling blackouts for months.
A demonstrator in Gebeit told Sudan Tribune the blockade was a last resort after repeated appeals to authorities failed to yield results, adding that the outages continue to disrupt businesses, public services, and daily routines.
Fatima Ali, a resident of Port Sudan, said blackouts extending up to 12 hours a day have made basic living conditions increasingly difficult in the high heat.
She told Sudan Tribune that children and the elderly are bearing the brunt of the crisis.
The protests coincided with a heatwave warning from the Sudan Meteorological Authority, which forecast high temperatures starting Saturday from midday until 9 p.m. across Red Sea State and other regions.
The weather service advised residents to avoid direct sunlight, drink plenty of water, and limit outdoor exposure during peak hours, warning of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.