Sudan’s military-led government has made its return to the capital after nearly three years of operating from its wartime base in Port Sudan.
Prime Minister Kamil Idris addressed reporters on Sunday, announcing that the “government of hope” is officially back in Khartoum and is set to commence initiatives aimed at enhancing services for the city’s beleaguered residents.
The military was displaced by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) when civil war erupted between the two factions in 2023. A significant turning point occurred last March when the army successfully recaptured control.
Khartoum is in the process of recovering from years of conflict, with approximately five million individuals having fled the city at the peak of the violence, as reported by the UN.
Those who remained faced a harsh RSF occupation characterized by widespread looting and the seizure of civilian homes.
Large areas of the city remain in ruins. In October, UN official Ugochi Daniels indicated that essential services were “barely functioning.”
On Sunday, Idris expressed the government’s commitment to improving electricity, water, healthcare, and education in Khartoum. He proclaimed that 2026 would be designated as a “year of peace” for Sudan, where at least 150,000 lives have been lost since the onset of the war.
The UN has labeled the situation as the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, with around 12 million individuals displaced from their homes.
The conflict ignited following a rift between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the army, and his deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the RSF, culminating in a fierce power struggle.
Both the RSF and the Sudanese military have faced allegations of committing atrocities during the conflict.
International attempts to facilitate peace have been unsuccessful, with both factions receiving backing from foreign powers that have supplied weapons to the region.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has faced particular scrutiny recently due to allegations of support for the RSF, which it has firmly denied.
