Khartoum Fish Merchants Warn of Health Hazards and Irregularities in Central Market Management

Khartoum – Nazik Shammam
The Fish Producers’ Chamber (affiliated with the Union of Chambers of Agriculture and Animal Production) has warned of the dangerous environmental and sanitary deterioration at Khartoum’s Central Fish Market, located adjacent to the railway line and the International University of Africa.
In a press statement, the Chamber called for the enforcement of standards and the establishment of transparency and fairness in the management and operation of this vital facility.
Fish producers emphasized that the current market was originally established as a temporary site on railway-owned land, following an agreement coordinated between the railway authority, the state government, the local municipality, and the Fish Producers’ Chamber. Producers contributed approximately one-third of the setup costs and successfully managed the site for years, representing the entire production value chain—from fishing and boat operations to refrigeration, transport, sorting, and marketing.
The producers expressed dissatisfaction with the Khartoum Municipality’s move to cancel and re-issue tenders, intending to award market management to parties outside the sector without following transparent and fair bidding procedures. They also pointed to escalating pressure and intimidation tactics aimed at forcing them to relinquish control of the market.
The Chamber highlighted a list of irregularities and issues threatening public health and consumer safety, most notably the environmental and sanitary decline, the spread of sewage and foul odors, and the accumulation of waste and refuse both inside and outside the market. It highlighted the absence of basic services—including lighting and running water—and noted that the market had deteriorated into a chaotic mess of rubble, dust, and haphazard potholes. It also pointed out health violations, such as the issuance of permits to street vendors and the construction of restrooms and facilities that failed to meet health standards near areas where fish are unloaded and displayed.
Furthermore, the Chamber revealed the imposition of more than 12 types of unjustified fees covering everything from the entry of trucks, carts, and personnel to the use of tables, handcarts, and even restrooms.

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