Did the Recent Flood in Sudan Wipe Out Its Livestock Sector?
Sudan Events – Agencies
Amid the waves of flooding that hit several regions of Sudan in early October, caused by the rising levels of the Nile River and its tributaries, claims have circulated on social media suggesting that the floods have devastated the country’s livestock sector.
These claims were accompanied by videos purportedly showing large numbers of cattle being swept toward Egypt, sparking widespread debate online over the fate of Sudan’s livestock, which numbers over 138 million head across various states.
But is this true, or is it media exaggeration during a disaster? What evidence supports these claims? Can floods so quickly weaken one of the Arab and African world’s richest countries in terms of agricultural, livestock, and mineral wealth? Could a flood achieve what three years of ongoing conflict could not?
In this report, Al Jazeera Investigates examines the original context of videos that have widely circulated on social media, raising concerns over one of Sudan’s most significant economic sectors.
Cattle Swimming in the Streets
A video widely shared on Facebook and TikTok claimed to show cattle submerged in floodwaters in Sudanese streets. However, reverse image searches traced the clip to an older video posted in August, showing floods in Pakistan, indicating it is neither recent nor related to Sudan’s Nile floods.
Cattle Swept Toward Egypt
Another video, among the most widely circulated, was claimed by Egyptian social media users to document floodwaters sweeping dozens of Sudanese cattle into Egyptian territory, with some accounts presenting it as proof of the sector’s collapse.
In reality, the video is older, first posted on TikTok on August 27, 2025, showing damage caused by rising water levels of Pakistan’s Chenab River, and has no connection to Sudan.
Crocodiles in the Streets
Some users shared a video claiming to show large numbers of crocodiles alongside cattle in Sudanese streets due to the floods. However, Al Jazeera Investigates found that the video was generated using artificial intelligence and is fabricated, not linked to Sudan’s recent floods.
The video was first posted on September 26 by a Pakistani TikTok account named Abdul Waheed, without claiming it was filmed in Sudan. Analysis of the account shows it routinely posts sensational videos that garner hundreds of millions of views.
The Truth Behind the Videos
The circulating videos, some misleading and outdated, and others AI-generated, cannot be considered evidence of a collapse in Sudan’s livestock sector. Official data firmly refutes these claims.
The Ministry of Livestock stated on its official Facebook page on Wednesday: “The livestock sector remains resilient despite the ongoing challenges in Sudan (the war) and continues to support the national treasury through exports and self-sufficiency in red meat.”
Sudan is a leading country in livestock exports and a major economic sector, though it has been impacted by conflict, which disrupted production and export operations. Reports indicate that 4 million head of livestock left the country amid clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Despite scenes of destruction, Sudan’s livestock sector shows signs of resilience. Traders are finding their way back to the market, and the government confirms a gradual restoration of production capacity. For millions of Sudanese who rely on livestock for income and export, this sector remains more than a source of livelihood—it is a cornerstone of economic and social stability.
Source: Al Jazeera Net
