Sudan’s capital city begins huge rebuilding efforts
Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has slowly begun its rebuilding process after a devastating two-year civil war according to Africanews plus agencies on August 21st.
Long-running tensions between the Sudanese army- Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into war in April 2023, but in March 2025 the SAF reestablished control of the capital.
However, it came at a cost. The battle to win the city led to some of the conflict’s deadliest skirmishes and caused further damage to key infrastructure and facilities in Khartoum.
Ministry buildings have been destroyed, the presidential palace has been damaged, and water and electrical facilities have been decimated, meaning that reconstruction efforts are pivotal to ensuring previously displaced people can return to Khartoum.
In addition, cultural sites such as the National Museum have been destroyed, and schools either being destroyed or repurposed as shelters.
Health facilities are also under strain, and Khartoum has launched a vaccination drive in response to a surge in cholera cases, indicating the scale of not just the rebuilding process, but restoring an element of normalcy.
Some of the Sudanese population are beginning to return. The United Nations estimate that half of the approximately four million residents that fled will return by the end of this year.
With instability and conflict still occurring elsewhere in the country, particularly in Darfur, it has been local authorities and volunteer groups who have started the rebuilding process, repairing water and power networks and clearing debris from the streets.
According to the United Nations, restoring basic infrastructure will cost at least $350 million, requiring many years for a full recovery.
Countries from north Africa including Libya and Egypt have been attempting to aid the humanitarian situation by distributing aid to refugee camps, and the latter has been aiding repatriation efforts for refugees back to Khartoum.
More than 12 million people have been displaced in the conflict, with four million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, including Egypt.
Africanews plus agencies, Maghrebi.org
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