In brief
Sudan’s army has ended the two‑year curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum, marking a turning point after it wrestled control from the Rapid Support Forces 18 months ago. The decision follows the arrival of more than two million former residents who fled the capital in 2023, but the city still suffers from widespread looting, damaged infrastructure and frequent black‑outs blamed on RSF drone attacks. Security patrols are intensified to prevent RSF infiltration and to safeguard movement at night, even as hostilities flare in the south and west. Regional tensions swirl after a disputed air strike brought Sudan’s war to Chad, prompting the United States to caution against expanding the violence and urging a humanitarian ceasefire. While the lifting of curfew offers a glimmer of normal life, the path to lasting peace remains uncertain as the RSF continues to contest key areas.
After a two‑year curfew imposed during the civil war, Sudan’s army announced that Khartoum has returned to normal hours and the state of emergency has been withdrawn. The move comes after the military wrestled control of the capital from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) 18 months ago.
Today’s decision signals a push to restore everyday life. Flights are now scheduled on the main airport, and embassies are being invited back, though many citizens still face severe hardships.
Around 2 million of the 5 million people who fled the city in April 2023 have begun to return, according to the International Organization for Migration. However, damage to infrastructure, looting and repeated power outages—attributed to drone attacks on electrical plants—plague the city.
The Sudanese government has stepped up security patrols across Khartoum to prevent infiltration by RSF sleeper cells and to safeguard illegal movements. Nevertheless, hostilities remain in the south and west, and the conflict is increasingly spilling into neighbouring Chad and other African states.
Chad has blamed the Sudanese army for an air strike that struck a military convoy inside Chadian territory, while Sudan insists it was a misunderstanding. The United States has warned that the war could destabilise the region, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and urging a halt to external military support.
The lifting of curfew marks a milestone, but the path to lasting peace remains uncertain as the RSF continues to fight for control of key areas, according to local reports.
