Over the past year, more than 2 million people have returned to Khartoum after the Sudanese army recaptured the capital from a paramilitary force that seized it at the start of the 2023 civil war, according to reporting summarized by outlets including Daily Maverick and Al-Monitor. In total, around 5 million people fled their homes in the city during the conflict.
Despite promises by authorities to restore normal life quickly following the military takeover, residents and observers say conditions remain unstable. Electricity supply is still largely unavailable, many buildings are damaged, and essential recovery work is hindered by unpaid workers. Some returnees describe coming back as a last resort, including claims that they were pushed into return pressures after a crackdown on refugees in neighbouring Egypt.
The sources characterize the return as significant in scale but uneven in impact, highlighting persistent infrastructure problems and difficulties in paying for services needed to rebuild. Overall, the reporting points to continued challenges for civilians attempting to resume daily life in the post-recapture phase.
