What's happened
Since recapturing Khartoum last March, Sudan's military aims to restore stability after nearly two years of intense fighting with the RSF. The city, heavily damaged and besieged, is beginning reconstruction, but conflict persists in other regions, displacing millions and deepening humanitarian crises. The situation remains volatile as fighting continues elsewhere.
What's behind the headline?
The recent return of the Sudanese government to Khartoum signals a potential shift towards stabilization, but the ongoing conflict in Darfur and Kordofan indicates that peace remains elusive. The government’s promises to improve essential services are hampered by the destruction of infrastructure and continued RSF drone strikes. The military’s claims of inflicting heavy losses on the RSF in Darfur and Kordofan suggest a strategic push, but independent verification is lacking. The conflict’s scale—displacing over 11 million—underscores its severity, with the risk that unresolved regional tensions could reignite full-scale civil war. The international community’s focus on reconstruction funding highlights the fragile state of recovery, which will depend on sustained ceasefire and political dialogue.
How we got here
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, when the army and the paramilitary RSF clashed, forcing the government to flee Khartoum. Over the following months, the city was heavily contested, with neighborhoods besieged and large-scale displacement. The government recaptured Khartoum last March, initiating efforts to rebuild infrastructure and restore services, amid ongoing violence in other regions like Darfur and Kordofan. The war has caused widespread displacement, with over 11 million affected, and has led to a major humanitarian crisis.
Our analysis
France 24 reports that the Sudanese government has begun a phased return to Khartoum, emphasizing reconstruction and service improvements, while acknowledging ongoing RSF drone strikes. Al Jazeera provides details on recent military operations in Darfur and Kordofan, claiming the army destroyed hundreds of RSF vehicles and inflicted significant casualties, though these claims lack independent confirmation. The New Arab highlights the city’s devastation and the broader humanitarian crisis, noting the displacement of over 11 million people and the ongoing violence in other regions. The contrasting perspectives underscore the complex, multi-layered nature of Sudan’s conflict, with government claims of progress contrasted against persistent violence and humanitarian suffering.
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