• River navigation between Egypt and Sudan resumed after six-year suspension

• Route halted since 2019 due to costs, technical issues, later Sudan war

• Resumption expected to boost trade and cross-border travel

River navigation between Sudan and Egypt resumed on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2025, after a six-year halt, the Nile Valley Navigation Authority said. The move is expected to ease cross-border travel and revive trade between the two countries.

According to local media, the route linking Aswan in Egypt to Wadi Halfa in northern Sudan had been suspended since 2019 due to technical problems, operational disruptions and high costs. Among the reasons cited were recurring breakdowns, falling profitability, swings in Nile water levels and coordination problems at border crossings.

Despite several attempts to restart the service, conditions worsened after war broke out in Sudan in April 2023. Services are resuming as the Sudanese army retakes parts of the country and authorities urge displaced people to return, including some who fled to Egypt. In a related development, local media also reported that flights at Khartoum airport are expected to resume.

Before the suspension, the river route carried passengers, goods and livestock and accounted for a significant share of bilateral trade. In 2023, Egypt exported about $983 million worth of goods to Sudan, led by wheat flour, raw sugar and packaging bags, according to CAPMAS data.

Sudan exported $387 million worth of goods to Egypt over the same period, mainly live animals, raw cotton and oilseeds. Road and maritime routes also remain key trade corridors between the two countries.

Henoc Dossa