• Sudanese government returns to Khartoum after nearly three years in Port Sudan.
• Prime Minister Kamil Idris pledges to improve city services and infrastructure.
• The civil war has displaced millions and caused immense destruction in the capital.

Sudan's government, led by Prime Minister Kamil Idris, has announced its official return to the capital Khartoum after nearly three years of operating from Port Sudan due to the ongoing conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). "We are back today... the government of hope is returning to the national capital," Idris told reporters, marking a significant moment in the country’s tumultuous political landscape following the civil war that erupted in April 2023, which saw the RSF quickly overrun Khartoum and force the government to retreat, according to Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera.

In his statements, Idris emphasized the government's commitment to improving vital services, including healthcare, education, electricity, and sanitation. The return follows a period during which the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) gradually regained control of the city, culminating in a significant military breakthrough in March 2025. Reports indicate that approximately five million people fled Khartoum during the height of the conflict, with many returning to find the city in ruins and essential services severely compromised, according to BBC and Africanews.

Since Idris's announcement, there has been a notable influx of returning inhabitants. However, the UN has reported that many residents face a harsh reality—homes destroyed and services that are "barely functioning." In recent months, the Sudanese government has conducted cabinet meetings in Khartoum and initiated discussions on Reconstruction, yet ongoing tensions and military operations between the SAF and RSF continue to pose challenges, as evidenced by recent conflicts in the Kordofan region, according to Africanews and Al Jazeera.