Sudans Government Returns to Khartoum After Wartime Capital Shift

Sudan’s Government Returns to Khartoum After Nearly Three Years

The government of Sudan, led by Prime Minister Kamil Idris, has announced its return to the capital city of Khartoum after nearly three years of operating from Port Sudan. The move comes as the country continues to grapple with a devastating civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

In April 2023, the army-aligned government fled Khartoum, which was quickly overrun by rival troops. Since then, the government has pursued a gradual return to the city, with recent efforts including holding cabinet meetings and launching reconstruction initiatives.

According to Idris, the government’s return marks a new era of “hope” for the nation. He promised improved services, healthcare, education, and infrastructure development, including the reconstruction of hospitals and the improvement of electricity, water, and sanitation services.

The city of Khartoum has been ravaged by the war, with entire neighborhoods besieged and millions of people displaced. The United Nations estimates that 1.2 million people have returned to the city since March, but many found it in a state of disrepair, with homes destroyed and makeshift cemeteries scattered throughout.

The rehabilitation of Khartoum’s essential infrastructure is estimated to cost $350 million, according to the UN. The conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, with tens of thousands of people killed and millions displaced.

Battles continue to rage across Sudan, with the RSF pushing through the Kordofan region and the SAF launching air and ground operations against the RSF in Darfur and Kordofan. The conflict has left 11 million people displaced internally and across borders, creating one of the world’s largest displacement and hunger crises.

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing fighting and reports of atrocities committed by both sides.

Source: Al Jazeera