Sudan bus fares rise 30% for Eid al-Adha travel season

 May 21, Khartoum — Sudan’s National Bus Chamber has announced a temporary 30% increase in inter-state bus fares ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday, with the surcharge taking effect on Friday and travel operations beginning on Sunday.

Ibrahim Mustafa, Secretary-General of the Bus Chamber, told Sudan Tribune that the increase will last ten days — five before the holiday and five after — before fares return to their standard rates. He described the rise as “routine,” saying it is designed to offset the cost of buses returning empty from the states after transporting passengers.

The Red Sea State Bus Chamber branch in Port Sudan also announced the same 30% surcharge on routes to and from Port Sudan, covering the period from Friday 22 May to Tuesday 26 May 2026. The branch said the new tariffs apply to 18 main routes, with the Port Sudan–Khartoum fare rising from 175,000 to 227,500 Sudanese pounds, Port Sudan–Wad Medani from 217,000 to 282,000 pounds, Port Sudan–Gedaref from 166,000 to 216,000 pounds, Port Sudan–El Obeid from 311,000 to 404,000 pounds, and Port Sudan–Ad-Damazin from 290,000 to 377,000 pounds.

Authorities stressed that transport companies and offices must adhere strictly to the approved 30% rate and refrain from imposing any additional charges, in order to prevent the exploitation of travellers during the seasonal rush.

Despite high travel costs and the ongoing effects of the war, many Sudanese continue to travel between states to spend the Eid holiday with family.

Land transport costs in Sudan have risen sharply in recent months due to sustained increases in fuel and spare parts prices, compounded by the operational challenges facing transport companies amid the country’s deteriorating economic and security conditions since the outbreak of war in April 2023.