Sudan’s displaced return to new challenges in war-battered Khartoum

What the report says

Thousands of Sudanese who were displaced by the war are returning to Khartoum state, but many are finding that coming home has brought a new set of hardships. In an article published by Al Jazeera on Nov. 3, 2026, the outlet reported from Khartoum that residents are returning to neighborhoods damaged by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, with homes looted or destroyed and basic services still unreliable.

The report followed the experience of families such as Mohamed Mahdi Makki Farah and Abubakr Ishaq Hamed Ibrahim, both of whom came back after being displaced from the capital region during the conflict that began in April 2023. They found empty or damaged houses, missing furniture and belongings, and costs they could not easily afford to repair or replace. Many returnees, Al Jazeera noted, are renting temporary accommodation while struggling with weak incomes, higher living costs and the loss of savings and documents.

Al Jazeera cited humanitarian tracking that said millions of Sudanese had returned to their homes nationwide, including about 2.5 million in Khartoum state by August 2026. But the reporting emphasized that return does not mean recovery: water, electricity, healthcare and transport remain strained, while fuel shortages and power cuts continue to disrupt daily life. Local authorities have announced steps to ease transport pressures, but the article suggests the broader challenge is rebuilding a capital still shaped by war damage and economic collapse.