The neighborhood of Dabrousa in New Halfa, located in Sudan’s Kassala State in the east of the country, witnessed widespread public protests as residents took to the streets to express their rejection of plans to sell a public square located in the center of the neighborhood. The site had been listed by the local land office and state authorities as part of real estate disposal projects.
Residents voiced their frustration with the policies of the local government in Kassala, which has been moving toward selling public spaces to finance government spending—a step locals see as a violation of community rights and a threat to open spaces that serve as vital recreational areas for residential neighborhoods.
Last month, the Kassala State government halted the sale of another public square located within the premises of the Sudan Railways Corporation in New Halfa after the corporation refused to relinquish its land. The move set a precedent in opposing the trend of selling public facilities.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese People’s Party, a relatively new political group with youth leadership, issued a statement condemning the land sale operations in New Halfa, claiming they primarily benefit businessmen with direct ties to Kassala’s local authorities.
The party further alleged that these practices lack transparency and raise suspicions about the involvement of influential political figures in dubious real estate deals.
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