More than two million Sudanese have returned to Khartoum over the past year following the Sudanese army’s recapture of the capital, but many are finding a city still struggling to recover from the devastating effects of war.
According to Reuters, despite government efforts to restore normal life, large parts of the capital remain without reliable electricity, damaged public infrastructure continues to limit essential services, and many public sector workers have yet to receive their salaries.
The return of displaced families highlights both the resilience of Sudanese communities and the immense reconstruction task facing the country after years of conflict.
The recovery effort also comes as Prime Minister Kamil Idris’ government works to restore public institutions, rebuild essential infrastructure, and encourage citizens to return to the capital despite ongoing challenges.
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According to Reuters, more than two million of the approximately five million people who fled Khartoum since the conflict began in 2023 have now returned to the city.
The government has instructed civil servants to resume work in Khartoum, while students who had been studying remotely or sitting examinations elsewhere have been directed to return to classrooms.
Reuters reported that many families have returned not only because security conditions have improved but also due to increasing pressures faced by Sudanese refugees in neighbouring Egypt.
Nisreen Altayeb, who recently returned from Egypt, told Reuters that she hoped to resume her work as a teacher but had yet to receive her salary.
Recovery has progressed more quickly in Omdurman, where government forces maintained partial control during the conflict, while much of Khartoum and Bahri continue to face severe shortages of electricity and other essential services.
Khartoum state spokesman Altayeb Saadeldin said electricity generation currently operates at only one-third of its pre-war capacity, allowing authorities to provide power for roughly eight hours each day.
What This Means For Africa
Sudan’s reconstruction represents one of the continent’s most significant post-conflict recovery challenges, with millions of displaced citizens requiring housing, employment, education, healthcare, and public services.
For Prime Minister Kamil Idris, restoring confidence in the capital will be essential to rebuilding state institutions and supporting national recovery after years of conflict.
Reuters reported that businesses are gradually reopening, particularly in Khartoum’s commercial districts, although many entrepreneurs continue to struggle with limited services and weak economic activity.
Some business owners have also expressed concern over the resumption of tax collection while electricity, sanitation, and other basic public services remain unreliable.
The situation illustrates the difficult balance governments often face between generating revenue for reconstruction and supporting citizens attempting to rebuild their livelihoods.
Across Africa, Sudan’s experience serves as a reminder that the end of armed conflict is only the beginning of a much longer process of national recovery.
Restoring infrastructure, rebuilding public confidence, revitalising local economies, and ensuring displaced populations can safely return home will require sustained investment, effective governance, and continued humanitarian support.
As authorities work to rebuild Khartoum, the pace of recovery will remain an important indicator of Sudan’s broader efforts to restore stability and lay the foundations for long-term national development.
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Image Credit: Al Mayadeen
