The Sudanese government has returned to Khartoum after operating for almost three years from the eastern city of Port Sudan, following the outbreak of the country’s civil war.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Prime Minister Kamil Idris said the “government of hope” was officially back in the capital and would begin restoring services for residents affected by years of fighting.
Sudan’s military leadership was forced out of Khartoum in 2023 when conflict erupted between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The army regained control of the capital in March, marking a turning point in the war.
Khartoum has been recovering from prolonged conflict. According to the United Nations, about five million people fled the city at the height of the fighting.
Residents who remained described an RSF occupation marked by looting and the takeover of civilian homes, while large parts of the city remain damaged.
In October, UN official Ugochi Daniels said basic services in Khartoum were “barely functioning.”
On Sunday, Idris said the government would focus on restoring electricity, water, healthcare, and education in the capital.
He also said 2026 would be a “year of peace” for Sudan, where at least 150,000 people have died since the war began.
The UN has described the conflict as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with around 12 million people displaced across the country.
The war started after a power struggle between the army chief, General Abdel Fattah-al Burhan, and his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the RSF.
Both the RSF and the Sudanese military have been accused of committing atrocities during the conflict.
Attempts by international actors to broker peace have so far failed, with both sides receiving backing from foreign powers.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has faced scrutiny over allegations of supporting the RSF, claims it has strongly denied.
(BBC)
