NEWS & POLITICS
Sudan government returns to Khartoum after army reclaims capital from RSF
Sudan's government has formally reestablished its presence in the capital, Khartoum, months after intense fighting forced officials to flee the city, marking what authorities describe as a critical turning point in the country's war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Michael Oduor
KHARTOUM, Sudan | January 13 (Running Africa) — Prime Minister Kamel Idris said the return follows the Sudanese army's recapture of Khartoum in May 2025, when it regained control of the presidential palace and large swathes of the capital after more than two years of urban warfare.
"Today we return, and with us returns a government of hope to the national capital," Idris told reporters on Monday after arriving from Port Sudan, which had served as the provisional seat of government during the conflict. "We promise improved services and a better life for our people."
Pledge to restore services and stability
Sudanese army forces advance through Khartoum, reclaiming territory from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Image: aljazeera.com
Idris said the government would prioritize restoring basic services crippled by the war, including education and healthcare. Schools and hospitals destroyed or rendered inoperable during the fighting will be rebuilt, he said, alongside efforts to strengthen security across the capital.
He also announced that a new state budget has been submitted without introducing additional taxes, adding that the government aims to reduce inflation to 70 percent from the current estimated rate of 74 percent.
The war, which erupted in April 2023, has killed thousands and triggered one of the world's largest displacement crises. An estimated 13.6 million people have been forced from their homes, many fleeing to neighboring countries.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
Civilians displaced by the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Image: reuters.com
According to United Nations estimates, around 20 million people in Sudan are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, while nearly 21 million face acute hunger. At least 4.3 million people have sought refuge abroad, placing a severe strain on regional humanitarian systems.
Although the army now controls Khartoum, the conflict remains unresolved. The RSF has regrouped in western Sudan, where it controls five of the country's 18 states. Last year, the paramilitary force announced a parallel administration, further destabilizing the northeast African nation.
A fragile turning point
Sudan has been locked in cycles of political upheaval since the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir in 2019. While the government's return to the capital signals a symbolic and strategic shift, analysts warn that lasting stability will depend on ending the war, reunifying state institutions, and addressing the deep humanitarian emergency gripping the country.
For now, Khartoum's reopening as the seat of government offers a tentative sign of normalization, but one overshadowed by the scale of Sudan's ongoing crisis.
