Sudan government moves back to capital after nearly three years away

(MENAFN) Sudan’s military-backed government has officially returned to Khartoum after nearly three years of operating from Port Sudan, its wartime base in the east.

Prime Minister Kamil Idris announced on Sunday that the “government of hope” was back in the capital and would begin working to restore essential services for residents who have endured years of hardship.

The army was originally driven out in 2023 when fighting erupted with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). After prolonged battles, the military regained control of Khartoum last March in what was seen as a major turning point.

The city has suffered immense damage from the conflict. According to the UN, around five million people fled during the height of the war, while those who stayed described widespread looting and RSF fighters occupying civilian homes. Large parts of Khartoum remain devastated, and in October a UN official noted that basic services were “barely functioning.”

Idris pledged that the government would prioritize improvements in electricity, water, healthcare, and education. He also declared that 2026 would be a “year of peace” for Sudan, where an estimated 150,000 people have lost their lives since the outbreak of war.

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