Amid the civil war in Sudan, Khartoum rebuilds
Despite the ongoing civil war across Sudan, the capital city of Khartoum has been undergoing reconstruction and is looking at reopening over time, reports Africanews via AFP on January 22nd.
The government, backed by the army, looks to rebuild the area, moving to disperse the debris and construct hospitable buildings as quickly as possible. Since the army regained control of Khartoum in March 2025, it has also been looking to retrieve stolen cultural artefacts and reinstate themselves.
Prior to this, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had control of the city for almost three years. Meanwhile, the government, under Prime Minister Kamil Idris has been using Port Sudan as their administrative station.
The progress so far has seen government buildings being rejuvenated; however, the scars of the civil war remain engrained in the walls of multiple ministries. Moreover, those who resided in Khartoum before the war are hesitant to return, with many businesses looking at permanent closures. One seller stated that many suppliers are demanding repayment for goods that were ruined during the fighting and therefore are looking at taking legal action.
While some have returned to Khartoum, and some residents never left, the conditions need resolving to be able to serve the community properly. There is no money circulating in the local economy and travelling in and out of the country remains difficult with the airport’s consistent closure. Even more urgently, the water systems need to be restored, and electricity isn’t currently accessible.
Another seller, Halima Ishaq described her experience of returning to the city, reporting the vacant streets and lack of business about. Her business comes through selling tea, and at the moment, she is earning very little in comparison to the income she earned before the war.
Abdullah Ahmed Abdel-Majid, another merchant, said that the instability of local markets is being caused by inflated prices due to the war.
Meanwhile, the National Theatre is being restored by volunteers after its technical equipment was destroyed. There have been massive efforts to restore the wreckage leftover.
Another building that is undergoing repairs is the Al-Merreikh Stadium, the home ground to one of the oldest football clubs in Africa. Since the city was taken by the paramilitary RSF, the stadium had been abandoned. But now, with work starting on removing the debris, many anticipate an imminent full refurbishment.
To fully repair the city to its pre-war level, the United Nations estimates that the project will cost over $350 million.
Africanews via AFP/ Maghrebi.org
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