Sudan lifts two-year curfew in Khartoum as residents return

Sudan's military-led government has lifted a curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum, ending restrictions that had been in place for more than two years. The move comes as residents continue to return to the capital after fighting there ended in March 2025. State media said the decision is intended to help restore normal life in the city.

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The curfew and emergency measures were imposed after war broke out in April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than two million of the roughly five million people who fled Khartoum have since returned. The authorities also reopened the city's main airport for some flights and are urging businesses and embassies to come back.

Despite the policy shift, daily life in Khartoum remains difficult. Residents are still dealing with widespread damage, looted buildings and constant power blackouts. A Khartoum state government spokesperson said the electricity sector had been heavily targeted, citing looting of copper wires, fuel and other components, as well as drone attacks on infrastructure.

An RSF source rejected those allegations and called them army propaganda. The decision matters because Khartoum is central to Sudan's political and economic life, and the return of civilians is a sign that the army is trying to normalise conditions after regaining control of the capital. The lifting of emergency restrictions may also be intended to encourage reconstruction, commercial activity and the return of diplomatic missions.

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At the same time, the continuing outages and damage show how limited that recovery remains. The wider conflict is still unresolved. The war is now in its fourth year, and clashes continue in the south and west of Sudan.

Reports compiled by BBC Monitoring say the army is still carrying out security sweeps across greater Khartoum, targeting alleged RSF sleeper cells, undocumented foreigners and criminals involved in illegal activities. That suggests the authorities remain concerned about instability even after the formal restrictions were eased. What happens next will depend on whether security improves enough for more people and institutions to return.

It is also unclear how quickly electricity, transport and other services can be restored, given the scale of damage and the government's limited funds. The situation in Khartoum will remain a key indicator of whether the capital can move from wartime disruption towards a more stable recovery.

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