Sudanese police fire tear gas to break up protest over power cuts

June 10, 2025 (WADI HALFA, Sudan) – Sudanese police on Tuesday fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a peaceful sit-in in the northern city of Wadi Halfa, where residents have been protesting new electricity cuts, a local community leader said.

Residents of Wadi Halfa, a city previously exempt from power rationing, began protesting on June 1. They had earlier blocked a key highway to the Egyptian border before reopening it last week after their demands were partially met.

The police crackdown on Tuesday temporarily dispersed the sit-in outside the electricity offices, but protesters quickly regrouped in larger numbers, a community leader told Sudan Tribune. The crowd then marched to the local government headquarters to demand the dismissal of the town’s Executive Director, whom they accuse of ordering the police action.

The community leader said residents reject the power cuts because they have worsened a water shortage affecting ten neighbourhoods in the city.

Widespread power rationing in Northern State follows drone attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Merowe Dam and other power generation stations in the region, according to the report.