Khartoum State Water Corporation has appealed to residents to resume paying water bills despite the years-long war and deepening economic crisis, a call that triggered anger across the capital. The utility said collections no longer reflect the city’s population, straining operations as power and maintenance costs surge and spare parts are hard to source.
Director General Mohamed Ali Al-Ajab said customer payments are the only guarantee of keeping services running and improving them, acknowledging that producing potable water now resembles a costly industry that requires substantial resources.
The announcement drew swift pushback from residents, many of whom have lost income or been displaced. Critics on social media called the move tone-deaf to daily hardships and questioned how the poor and uprooted could pay. Others argued access to safe drinking water is a basic right that should not hinge on ability to pay during war.
