Sudan Government Returns to Capital After Nearly Three Years of War
Sudan Government Returns to Khartoum
Khartoum, Sudan – The military-led government of Sudan has returned to the capital after nearly three years operating from its war base in Port Sudan. Prime Minister Kamil Idris declared to reporters on Sunday that the "government of hope" is officially back in Khartoum and will begin efforts to improve services for the city's residents, who have been affected by the ongoing conflict.
The military had to retreat in the face of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) when civil war broke out between the two sides in 2023. The military regained control of the capital in a significant achievement last March. Khartoum is in the process of recovering after years of fighting, with nearly five million people fleeing the city at the height of the conflict, according to the UN. Those who could not leave describe brutal occupation by the RSF, which included mass looting and the seizure of civilian homes by combatants. Many areas of the city are in ruins.
In October, UN official Ugochi Daniels reported that basic services are operating "with difficulty." Prime Minister Idris stated on Sunday that the government will work on improving electricity supply, water, medical assistance, and education in Khartoum. He further declared that 2026 will be a "year of peace" for Sudan, where at least 150,000 people have died since the war began. The UN has described the situation in Sudan as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, with approximately 12 million people forced to leave their homes.
The war started after the army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, entered into conflict with his deputy and RSF leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leading to a brutal power struggle. Both the RSF and the Sudanese army have been accused of committing atrocities throughout the conflict. International peace mediation efforts have failed, and both sides are supported by foreign powers that have armed the country. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently faced particular scrutiny over allegations that it supports the RSF, which it categorically denies.
