Protesters threaten to block northern Sudan’s main highway over power cuts

May 25, Wadi Halfa— The “Turs al-Sukut” group announced on Sunday that it will escalate its protests over prolonged power cuts by blocking the Northern Artery — the main road linking Khartoum to Northern State and Egypt — starting Tuesday.

In a statement, the group said it had decided to move to “full blockade” of the highway at the Abri Turumba, Sawarda, and Atab points, halting all public and private vehicle movement until the “unjust” power-rationing programme is cancelled, the local executive director and unit director are dismissed, and those responsible for the crackdown on peaceful protesters are held accountable.

The announcement follows a police crackdown on demonstrations in Abri last Friday, in which security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters, arrested activists, and were accused of assaulting women and children.

“The repression will not intimidate the public or break the will of citizens,” the group said.

Abri and surrounding villages have been suffering severe daily power cuts for extended hours amid rising temperatures. The crisis has spread across multiple states, with unprecedented increases in daily outage hours due to recurring faults and supply shortages.

Sudan’s electricity sector has sustained widespread damage during the ongoing conflict, with the country now relying primarily on hydroelectric generation. The United Nations has estimated war-related damage to the sector at approximately three billion dollars, while solar energy use has grown among residents despite high costs.