Egyptian authorities have suspended the movement of freight trucks into Sudan through the Qustul border crossing until further notice, as protests and trade restrictions continue to disrupt commercial activity between the two countries.
The decision, announced on Thursday, follows days of demonstrations and a strike by customs clearance workers and transport operators in Wadi Halfa, northern Sudan, which have brought operations at the Ashkeet border crossing to a standstill.
Brigadier General Essam Farouk al-Qutb, director of Egypt’s Qustul land port, ordered the suspension following instructions from the General Authority for Land and Dry Ports, according to local Sudanese media.
The directive cited developments in Sudan’s Northern State and their impact on trade between Egypt’s Qustul crossing and Sudan’s Ashkeet border facility.
Under the new measures, trucks heading towards Qustul must remain at a designated municipal parking facility and will not be permitted to proceed across the border until further instructions are issued.
The restrictions do not apply to passenger buses, private vehicles, minibuses or individual travellers, who will continue to be allowed through.
The suspension comes amid an ongoing protest by residents, customs agents and transport workers in Wadi Halfa against economic measures introduced by Sudanese authorities.
Demonstrators have demanded the reversal of restrictions on personal imports, the removal of bans affecting certain goods and reductions in customs duties and other charges.
The protests, which began on October 11, have disrupted freight operations and left trucks stranded along routes leading to the border.
Protesters say the restrictions have damaged local businesses, increased the cost of essential goods and threatened livelihoods in communities dependent on cross-border trade.
In a separate development, the Egyptian Truck Drivers’ Union announced a complete suspension of truck movements to and from Sudan until further notice.
According to Radio Dabanga, the union’s decision followed the reported killing of two Egyptian truck drivers in Khartoum. The organisation said operations would remain suspended until conditions stabilised and the safety of drivers and vehicles could be guaranteed.
