The National Exports Highway: Reviving an Economic Lifeline for Sudan and Its Neighbours
The reopening of Sudan's National Export Road by the Sudanese Armed Forces has restored a critical trade artery for the country and its landlocked neighbors. This development has significantly reduced logistics costs and transit times, facilitating the export of key commodities like gum arabic and livestock.
Why it matters
Restoring this corridor is essential for Sudan's economic recovery and the stability of regional supply chains, providing a vital source of foreign currency.
Dr Mohammed Awad Mohammed Metwally The announcement in July 2026 that the Sudanese Armed Forces and security services had secured the National Export Road represented a geo-economic and strategic shift extending far beyond an ordinary battlefield gain. It restored the principal artery through which the Sudanese economy—and the economies of several landlocked African countries—draw breath. This vital corridor extends for hundreds of kilometres, linking the plains, farms, and mines of western and central Sudan with international export gateways through Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast. It is the primary driver of Sudan’s non-oil foreign trade and one of the banking system’s most important sources of foreign currency, at a time when the world is facing major challenges to the stability of international supply chains. The closure of this corridor as a result of military operations caused near-total logistical paralysis.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in