A sudden and unexpected outage of the Bankk app, which is affiliated with Khartoum Bank, caused a significant disruption to trade in the Kalakala Lafa markets in Khartoum on September 29, 2026. The outage, which occurred in the morning, left many traders and customers unable to conduct transactions, leading to a sharp decline in business activity.

The disruption to the Bankk app had a ripple effect on the local economy, with many traders and customers expressing frustration and concern about the impact on their daily transactions. The Kalakala Lafa markets are a major commercial hub in Khartoum, and the outage caused widespread disruption to trade, with many businesses forced to suspend operations until the issue was resolved.

According to reports from the scene, many traders were forced to halt sales on credit until the service was restored. Customers also expressed dissatisfaction with the repeated outages of the app, stating that it disrupts their daily transactions and affects their livelihoods. The outage highlighted the reliance on electronic banking services in Sudan and the need for stable and reliable systems.

The outage of the Bankk app occurred at a time when electronic banking services have become an essential part of daily transactions in Sudan. The disruption caused significant inconvenience to customers and traders, who rely heavily on the app for their daily transactions.

Many stakeholders, including customers and traders, have called on Khartoum Bank to take urgent measures to ensure the stability of the service and minimize the impact of outages on the markets. The incident has highlighted the need for robust and reliable electronic banking systems to support the growing demand for digital financial services in Sudan.

The incident is not an isolated one, as the Bankk app has experienced outages in the past. In September 2026, the bank announced that it had provided $1 billion to support the importation of strategic commodities. However, the recent outage has raised concerns about the bank's ability to provide reliable services to its customers.

The disruption to the Bankk app has also raised concerns about the potential impact on the broader economy. With many businesses and individuals relying on electronic banking services, any disruption to these services can have far-reaching consequences.

Key points

  • The outage of the Bankk app caused significant disruption to trade in the Kalakala Lafa markets in Khartoum.
  • The incident highlighted the reliance on electronic banking services in Sudan and the need for stable and reliable systems.
  • Stakeholders have called on Khartoum Bank to take urgent measures to ensure the stability of the service and minimize the impact of outages on the markets.

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SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.