El Amir explained to Radio Dabanga that the next step of the El Gedaref traders' committee would be to organise a conference in Wad Madani, capital of El Gezira, for merchants and traders in six different states to discuss the exorbitant taxes and take a unified position regarding them.
In White Nile state, traders continued to strike for the second day in a row in protest against the exorbitant taxes. Shops and market stalls closed their doors in Kosti, Rabak, Ed Duweim, and other cities in the state. The Steering Committee of Kosti Merchants stressed its rejection of the tax increase and its refusal to meet with the tax appeals committee. During a meeting yesterday, the merchants stressed the necessity of collecting state and local taxes in a way that preserves the merchants' dignity and position.
The committee also called on merchants to prepare to return to the strike if the situation required it. The Chamber of Commerce in Delling, South Kordofan, confirmed strike action and the closure of markets on Wednesday and Thursday to protest the tax increase.The El Gezira State Chamber of Commerce also announced the strike on Wednesday and Thursday after the state's tax director rejected the list of demands they had submitted.Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox