Sudanese return home to a capital unready to welcome them

More than 2 million of the 5 million people who fled Khartoum during Sudan's civil war have returned to the capital in the year since the Sudanese army recaptured it from a paramilitary force. The city remains largely devastated, with destroyed infrastructure, limited basic services, and a fragile security situation. The war, which began in 2023, displaced millions and caused a severe humanitarian crisis. Returnees face shortages of water, electricity, healthcare, and housing, as well as ongoing risks from unexploded ordnance and sporadic violence. The government has struggled to restore essential services or provide adequate support for the influx. International aid agencies warn that the return is outpacing the city's capacity to absorb residents safely.

Global Impact

Politically, the return of displaced populations to Khartoum may ease some pressure on neighboring countries hosting refugees, but the fragile security environment risks renewed displacement. Economically, the rebuilding of the capital could stimulate local demand for construction and basic goods, though the lack of functioning financial systems and ongoing conflict limit near-term growth.