Gold Traders in Omdurman Gone on Strike in Protect of an Armed Robbery Incident

The strike began on Monday, following the robbery of trader Omar Mohamed, owner of the “Al-Shalal” gold shop on Al-Wadi Street in Omdurman.

Khalid Al-Khanjar, Head of the Gold Traders Chamber, warned of a complete shutdown and potential departure from the country. He told Sudan Tribune that the activities of 340 gold shops are now threatened due to the security situation, considering this incident a major warning sign.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening when the shop owner arrived at his home in the Al-Shatie (Shore) neighborhood, carrying over a kilogram of gold, and while he was waiting for his home’s door opening, armed men in military uniforms and riding in a four-wheel-drive vehicle with an RPG launcher surrounded him, shot at his car’s tires, and kidnapped him. They later dumped him in a western area after stealing all the gold.

Al-Khanjar expressed frustration over the absence of local authorities at the strike site on Al-Wadi Street, stating that they had not received any calls from official bodies.

Al-Khanjar asserted that gold shop owners are committed to paying fees and taxes, which have increased significant from 100,000 to 900,000 Sudanese pounds (SDG). Therefore, they deserve government attention to their issues.

The police have begun investigating the incident, according to one of the striking traders.