Sudan Bus Operators, Tax Office Agree to Halve Fare Hike to End Strike

30 March 2026

Sudan’s bus chamber and the taxation department agreed to reduce ticket price hikes on March 29, 2026

March 30, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s bus chamber and the taxation department reached an agreement on Sunday to reduce a recent ticket price hike from 30% to 15%, effectively ending a strike that disrupted national travel.Africans & Diaspora

The deal follows a protest by transport operators against rising taxes, which had left passengers stranded at the Argeen border crossing with Egypt before a temporary suspension of the strike allowed traffic to resume.

Ibrahim Mustafa, Secretary-General of the National Bus Chamber, told Sudan Tribune that the agreement with the Taxation Chamber includes adjusting the taxes imposed on the sector to reflect the lower fare increase.

Tax levies on the industry have fluctuated recently. Charges rose from 200,000 Sudanese pounds before Eid al-Fitr to 350,000 pounds, then spiked to 1.35 million pounds before being lowered to 850,000 pounds following operator pushback.

The agreement was finalized during a joint meeting involving the Taxation Chamber and the Sudanese Transport Chambers Union. The parties aimed to resolve chronic issues facing the transport sector while balancing revenue needs with the cost of living.Sudan travel guide

Mustafa said official directives to implement the new 15% tariff are expected within 24 to 48 hours. He described the compromise as satisfactory for the government, operators, and passengers alike.

The Transport Chambers Union had previously approved a distance-based price hike of 30% for buses and up to 40% for minibuses. These adjustments were attributed to a comprehensive review of operating costs amid economic shifts.

Authorities have also enforced specific fees for passengers returning to major hubs. Travellers to Khartoum are charged 34,000 pounds on top of their ticket price, while those heading to Atbara and Dongola pay 22,000 and 15,500 pounds, respectively.

Sudan’s transport sector remains under pressure from rising fuel prices and maintenance costs. Diesel has surged from 2,600 pounds per litre to an average of 5,018 pounds, while the price of a single tyre has nearly doubled to 2 million pounds.