Khartoum Teachers Launch Phased Strike Over Wages and Living Conditions
Teachers across Khartoum State have initiated a phased strike action starting June 17, 2026, leaving many classrooms and schoolyards empty. The movement follows a deadlock in discussions with authorities after a deadline for a response to a memorandum of demands passed without official action.
The strike is part of a coordinated escalation plan. Following the initial action on June 17, teachers scheduled further strikes for June 22 and 23, with a consultative meeting set for June 25 to evaluate the situation and determine future steps. The movement has resulted in significant disruptions, with some reports describing the schools in the capital as entirely deserted.
The educators' demands center on three primary financial issues: increasing the minimum wage to keep pace with inflation, the immediate payment of all accumulated arrears and allowances in a single installment, and the guarantee of timely monthly salary payments. Teachers argue that current wages are insufficient to cover basic necessities due to the dramatic rise in the cost of living.
This action in Khartoum is part of a broader labor upheaval spreading across Sudan. The capital is the third state to join the protests, following similar movements in Kassala and Al-Jazirah. In some regions, the strike has reached 100 percent participation in most public schools and several private institutions.
Teachers' committees have emphasized that their demands are legitimate and lawful under national and international conventions. They have called upon parents and the general public to support their cause, asserting that the financial stability and dignity of educators are essential for a functional education system.
