The impact of war on trade and markets in Darfur: destruction, resilience and adaptation

This issue brief provides an overview of how trade and markets in Darfur have adapted, positively and negatively, to the conflict since full-scale war broke out in April 2023. It is mainly focused on trade and markets within the five Darfur states. It complements the SPARC brief 'Darfur’s long-distance trade: impact of war and Rapid Support Forces' trade embargo'. 

Although Darfur had already experienced 20 years of violent conflict since 2003, the nature and intensity of the current war is on an entirely different scale, now nationwide and fuelled by wider geopolitical interests. This brief identifies some trends that have amplified adaptations to the conflict in Darfur since 2003, and some that are new. It is based on first-hand observation and data collected by a network of researchers across all five Darfur states who are in regular contact with traders in each of the Darfur state capitals. Our focus is trade and market dynamics; it is beyond the scope of the brief to capture the consequences for agricultural production and producers.

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