Merowe residents protest week-long power outage in Sudan’s Northern State
April 16, 2026 (MEROWE) – Dozens of residents in the city of Merowe held a mass protest on Thursday to denounce a total power outage affecting the locality for over a week, causing significant losses to the agricultural and service sectors.
Sources told Sudan Tribune the protest follows a sharp deterioration in living conditions and public services since the outbreak of war three years ago. Damage to transformers and infrastructure has resulted in a crippled power supply, characterized by prolonged blackouts and erratic load-shedding.
The week-long outage has caused notable damage to vital farming activities, fueling public frustration and drawing sharp criticism of both the electricity administration and the state government.
The Merowe Higher Council for Locals submitted an official memorandum to authorities demanding an end to the crisis, enhanced security, and a guaranteed share of resources from the Merowe Dam. The council set a deadline for a response, warning of further escalation if demands are not met.
The memorandum also addressed broader economic grievances, including the management of the “Nile Poultry” project, the Al-Daman Hospital, and the locality’s share in regional investment projects.
A statement issued by the Sudanese Electricity Company earlier this week sparked widespread dissatisfaction among residents, who dismissed it as failing to provide practical solutions to the crisis.
The Sudan Electricity Holding Company said the blackout across the Northern State was caused by a transformer failure at the Merowe station and a reduction in power supply from the electrical link with Egypt. It added that a shortage of spare parts has delayed maintenance.
The company said technical teams are working on repairs while awaiting a replacement transformer. It described restoring power to the state as a priority, particularly as secondary school certificate exams approach.
Sudan Tribune has learned that protesters plan to escalate their actions in the coming days if the power supply is not stabilized.