Sudan: Two-Week Power Blackout After Drone Attack Sees Prices in Sudan's White Nile State Soar

What the report says

Residents of Rabak in Sudan’s White Nile state have gone 14 days without electricity after a drone strike hit the Mashkour electricity substation, according to Dabanga via AllAfrica. The outage has disrupted daily life in the city and pushed up the cost of essentials, including ice, phone charging, milling grain and water access.

The report says the blackout began after the attack at the end of October and has affected several basic services. Mills have turned to fuel-powered generators, creating long waits and higher fees for flour processing. Because many people rely on mobile banking for everyday purchases, the loss of electricity has also made communications and transactions more difficult.

Water supplies were later restored using generators, but residents are now paying more for each water container than before the disruption. Some households have been able to use solar-powered homes or offices to charge devices, while others must pay to keep phones running. The article also notes that the power loss has affected schooling, with families struggling to study after dark and to prepare school uniforms without electric appliances.

More broadly, the case illustrates how attacks on energy infrastructure can cascade into food, water, transport and education costs in wartime Sudan. The publisher reported no clear timetable for electricity to return to Rabak.