Bazaars: A Lifeline for Sudanese Women Coping with the Hardships of War

Amid the economic and living crises caused by the ongoing war and rising poverty and unemployment rates, hundreds of widows and divorced women displaced to Karari locality since the outbreak of the armed conflict have turned to establishing commercial bazaars in Omdurman. These bazaars showcase a variety of products as innovative income-generating projects to boost household earnings and support families.

More than 200 women from the seven localities of the Khartoum capital area have been actively marketing different products at the bazaar, organized as part of efforts to support war-affected families and economically empower women through selling and promoting items they crafted themselves.

Family Challenges

Shadia Al-Khalifa, a volunteer activist, told Mashawir that “most of the women participating in the bazaar face major challenges due to losing their husbands as a result of the war or for other reasons, making them the sole breadwinners for their families.

“The challenges include seeking livelihoods and stability amid harsh economic conditions, leaving them solely responsible for raising children and providing basic needs,” she added.

Al-Khalifa explained that “the aim of organizing the bazaar is to increase the incomes of war-affected families by enabling women to display and sell the products they make, thereby economically empowering them and creating job opportunities. It also allows families to access basic goods at affordable prices.”

She pointed out that the bazaar features handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, and food products, as well as providing support and solidarity for the women involved.

Difficulties and Successes

Awadiya Al-Tayeb, a housewife, told Mashawir that “her husband died in the war when he was hit by artillery fire in front of their home in an old Omdurman neighborhood, forcing her to flee with her 10-member family to Nile River State in search of safety. However, rising rent costs and the lack of income or work opportunities made her return to Karari locality.

“At first, I stayed in a displacement shelter. Over time, I began looking for work in the neighborhood,” she said.

“I met a family preparing to leave Sudan who offered me part of their house to live in. I started baking pastries with my daughters and supplying them to shops, but the income was not enough to meet our daily needs. This pushed me to work as a tea seller, a new profession through which I found a good market and a reliable source of income.”

She explained that she participated in the bazaar with various baked goods and managed to sell all her stock.

New Job Opportunities

Jihan Yas, another housewife, told Mashawir that “she was forced to flee with her husband and three children in search of safety and stability, but faced high rent prices, the collapse of daily work opportunities, and the loss of her husband’s job due to the war. This led her to start making Sudanese perfumes and incense.

“The income was insufficient compared to the daily cost of living, so I began working on handmade crafts and embroidering women’s dresses to increase earnings,” she said, noting that women lack adequate support from both the community and the government and face economic and social challenges with limited opportunities.

Yas hopes the bazaar will give her a solid market for her products and help her gain new customers, especially since her prices are affordable.

An Additional Source of Income

Salwa Al-Taher, a primary school teacher, was forced to start selling ice cream after separating from her husband, a decision driven by his inability to provide for their four children, especially given the hardships caused by the armed conflict.

“I faced many challenges as my salary was not enough to support my family, forcing me to look for additional work as the war further strained the economic situation of many households, increasing the pressure on everyone stuck in Sudan’s capital,” she said.

She found an opportunity at the bazaar to work in ice cream sales, and her products proved highly popular with bazaar visitors.

Marketing and Relief

Sociologist and economist Ahmed Abdullah told Mashawir that “women in Sudan have faced massive challenges during the war due to the loss of husbands and rising divorce rates.

“The influx of displaced families as a result of the conflict, combined with inflation and soaring prices of essential goods, inspired the creation of bazaars as a way to earn a livelihood. Women discovered talents they were forced by war to bring out, and bazaars have become an economic outlet and a market for home-produced goods. They also offer low-income buyers affordable alternatives that rival shops and malls,” he said.

“The duration of each bazaar is usually no more than three days to a week before moving to a new location, with small fees paid to reserve spaces and tables. Marketing relies on women’s groups and social media platforms,” Abdullah added.

He noted that “bazaars are not only about buying and selling; they are also places of relief and recreation for women and children—whether residents or those who fled the sounds of shelling and gunfire—and an opportunity to reconnect with friends and acquaintances who lost their social ties.”