African nation removes forces from capital after years of war

Sudanese officials have reportedly hailed the withdrawals as a major step toward restoring security and rebuilding Khartoum

Sudan’s transitional government has announced the withdrawal of troops from the capital, Khartoum. The move is aimed at enabling residents who fled the city to return after more than two years of a brutal civil war that has devastated the African state.

More than 3,000 fighters, representing 98% of the state’s combat forces, have been withdrawn and redeployed outside Khartoum State, Ibrahim Jaber, the chairman of the committee overseeing the capital’s reconstruction, told journalists on Sunday, according to local media.

“Work is underway to relocate the remaining forces… Police... have been deployed in concentration camps; all report offices and public service centers have been opened,” state news agency SUNA quoted Jaber as saying.

Police have been stationed at 13 key crossings to bolster security, while aid trucks moved in, the outlet added.

The withdrawal of troops reportedly comes in response to insecurity blamed on armed groups and rogue forces, with residents of the capital’s seven localities reporting frequent robberies and looting.

Sudan has been gripped by fierce fighting between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023. Both factions are vying for control amid a stalled transition to civilian rule. The country faces what the UN has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with thousands killed. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that as of this month, 11,918,777 people have been forcibly displaced across the country.

SAF chief and de facto leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared Khartoum “free” in March after his forces recaptured the international airport along with key military and civilian facilities from the RSF.

Last month, the authorities announced plans to rebuild roads, bridges, and the international airport destroyed in the hostilities. The army also reportedly cleared 4,500 mines and shells near Khartoum as part of a demining program.

Over the weekend, local media reported that the transitional government has introduced new security measures in the capital, including a ban on carrying weapons in public, restrictions on unregistered vehicles, and a prohibition on wearing military uniforms.

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