Sudanese government returns to the capital after almost three years of war

(Patria) - The Sudanese government, led by the army, has returned to the country's capital after almost three years of operating from its war base in the eastern city of Port Sudan, the BBC reported.

Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris told reporters on Sunday that the "government of hope" has officially returned to Khartoum and will begin efforts to improve services for the city's affected residents.

The army was forced to withdraw by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) when the civil war between the two sides broke out in 2023.

The army retook it in a significant breakthrough last March. Khartoum is recovering from years of fighting. Approximately five million people fled the city at the height of the conflict, according to United Nations data.

Those who did not want or could not leave described a brutal occupation by the RSF, which included mass looting and the takeover of civilian homes by fighters.

Vast parts of the city lie in ruins. In October, UN official Ugochi Daniels reported that basic services were "barely functioning".

On Sunday, Idris stated that the government will work to improve electricity, water, healthcare, and education supplies in Khartoum.

He also stated that 2026 will be the "year of peace" for Sudan, where at least 150,000 people have died since the start of the war. The UN has described the situation as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with around twelve million people forced to leave their homes.

The war began after the army commander, General Abdel Fattah-al Burhan, fell out with his deputy and RSF leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leading to a fierce power struggle.

Both the RSF and the Sudanese army have been accused of committing crimes throughout the conflict. International efforts to mediate peace have failed, and both sides are supported by foreign powers that have supplied weapons to the country.
The United Arab Emirates has recently come under particular scrutiny for alleged support of the RSF, which the Arab state denies.