In a significant political development, Sudan’s transitional administration has declared its intention to reestablish operations in the national capital of Khartoum after relocating to Port Sudan in 2023 due to escalating military conflicts. Prime Minister Kamel Idris formally announced the governmental return on Sunday, pledging enhanced public services for Khartoum’s residents during a press briefing in the city.
The Prime Minister, who previously served as a United Nations official, proclaimed that ‘the government of hope is returning to the national capital,’ emphasizing the symbolic importance of this transition. Idris had previously dissolved Sudan’s caretaker government in June, replacing it with a technocratic administration that he characterizes as focused on national recovery. However, the unelected leader faces criticism from some quarters who view him as a civilian representative for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
This governmental relocation occurs against the backdrop of a devastating civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict forced the SAF-aligned government to abandon the capital and establish temporary headquarters in Port Sudan, which has since functioned as the primary hub for humanitarian aid distribution and commercial maritime activities.
The human cost of the conflict has been staggering, with approximately 13 million people displaced nationwide. Current territorial control shows the RSF maintaining dominance over five states in the Darfur region, while the Sudanese army controls the remaining 13 states across southern, northern, eastern, and central regions, including Khartoum.
These opposing factions previously collaborated in 2019 to overthrow Omar al-Bashir’s three-decade regime but fractured in 2023. The RSF faces serious allegations of genocide and war crimes, including mass killings in el-Fasher last November, with reports indicating military support from the United Arab Emirates. Simultaneously, the SAF confronts accusations of human rights violations and wartime atrocities, creating a complex humanitarian and political crisis that continues to unfold.