Sudan war damages grid by $3 billion, forcing families to pay high costs for solar power
Ongoing fighting has destroyed over $3 billion in Sudan's electricity infrastructure. Households are now turning to expensive solar panels to replace blackouts that disrupt schooling.
The conflict between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, is severely damaging local power systems. The United Nations Development Program estimates that the damage inflicted on the electricity grid amounts to $3 billion. This destruction has triggered recurrent blackouts across the country for nearly a year. Residents, including Randa al-Mansour in Omdurman, are installing solar panels on rooftops to provide light during scorching summer days. When schools lack power, children must return home where electricity also fails. The situation makes studying difficult due to high temperatures. While billboards advertising solar batteries and inverters appear in the capital, not everyone can afford the transition. Many families rely on money sent from relatives working abroad to support their households and pay these energy costs.
