Sudanese protesters block highway to Egypt over power cuts

April 8, 2026 (WADI HALFA) – Dozens of protesters demonstrated in the town of Abri on Wednesday, blocking the main highway linking Sudan to Egypt to protest against persistent power outages.

The demonstrators set tyres on fire and blocked the vital road connecting Dongola to Wadi Halfa, a primary artery for trade and travel between Sudan and Egypt.

A member of the Wadi Halfa emergency room, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said residents are protesting the inclusion of Abri in a recent electricity rationing schedule.

“Protesters refuse to be part of the power cuts because the transmission line from Egypt is sufficient to cover the city’s needs entirely without the need for scheduling,” the source told Sudan Tribune.

Egypt provides electricity to several towns in northern Sudan under a long-standing agreement. These areas have historically remained outside the Sudanese national grid’s load-shedding cycles, which the government uses to manage fuel shortages and network failures.

In a statement issued Wednesday, protesters criticized local officials for citing global instability and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz as reasons for the 12-hour daily blackouts.

“Linking the stability of citizens’ daily lives to political analysis or maritime tensions is an unacceptable approach,” the statement said, noting that the crisis has paralyzed local markets and public services.

The protesters warned they would escalate their movement in public squares and maintain the highway blockade until authorities provide an administrative solution and end the rationing immediately.