Sudan’s military-led authorities have lifted the curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum more than two years after they were imposed, state media has reported, in a move aimed at helping the capital return to normal life.
The decision comes 18 months after Sudan’s army regained control of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been fighting the military in a civil war that has entered its fourth year.
Although fighting in the capital has largely ended, the Sudan war continues in parts of the south and west, while concerns are growing that the conflict could spread beyond the country’s borders.
Sudan war leaves Khartoum struggling to recover
More than two million of the approximately five million people who fled Khartoum after the conflict began in April 2023 have returned since fighting in the capital ended in March 2025, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Authorities hope lifting the curfew will encourage more residents to resume normal activities. Khartoum’s main airport has also reopened for some flights, while the government is encouraging businesses and diplomatic missions to return.
However, rebuilding remains difficult for many residents.
Large parts of the capital have suffered extensive damage, while numerous buildings have been looted. Residents are also facing frequent electricity outages, with the state government blaming alleged RSF drone attacks on power infrastructure, looting and a lack of funding for repairs.
Khartoum state government spokesperson Altayeb Saadeldin said damage to the electricity sector had been particularly serious. He cited stolen copper wires, fuel and other equipment, alongside drone strikes, as major causes of the continuing blackouts.
An RSF source rejected the accusations as “incorrect and army propaganda”.
Security concerns remain in Khartoum
Despite lifting the emergency measures, authorities remain concerned about possible RSF infiltration.
The Sudan News Agency reported that security patrols would continue throughout Khartoum state, while people travelling at night would be required to carry identification documents.
Reports monitored by BBC Monitoring indicate that the army continues conducting security operations across greater Khartoum. The sweeps reportedly target suspected RSF sleeper cells, undocumented foreigners and people suspected of involvement in criminal activities.
Sudan conflict raises regional fears
The Sudan war is also creating increasing concern among neighbouring countries.
Chad has accused the Sudanese army of carrying out an air strike on a military convoy in Ennedi-Est province on 20 August. The reported strike took place around 100km inside Chadian territory and prompted Chad to place its forces along the border on maximum alert.
Sudan has rejected the accusation, saying it was surprised that its military had been blamed without an independent investigation.
Sudan’s foreign ministry said the army was carrying out its constitutional responsibility to protect the country’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity while respecting the sovereignty of neighbouring states.
Khartoum has also accused Chad of allowing military supplies for the RSF to pass through its airports and border crossings, with the United Arab Emirates alleged to be supplying the equipment. Both Chad and the UAE deny the allegations, despite similar claims appearing in UN expert findings and international media investigations.
US warns against wider regional conflict
The reported strike inside Chad prompted Massad Boulos, the US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, to warn about the danger of the Sudan war spreading across the region.
Boulos has been pushing the opposing sides to accept an immediate humanitarian truce. However, the Sudanese military has resisted entering a peace process unless the RSF disarms and withdraws from areas under its control.
“The United States condemns the SAF’s recent air strikes inside Chad,” Boulos wrote on X, adding that there was “no military solution” to the conflict and no justification for extending the violence beyond Sudan.
He also called for an end to external financial and military assistance to both sides.
Earlier this month, the US envoy presented a draft resolution to the UN Security Council seeking to extend the existing 2005 weapons embargo on Darfur to the whole of Sudan. The proposed measures would also include restrictions on attack drones, which have increasingly been used by both sides.
Sudan’s government and military have rejected the proposal, arguing that it unfairly places the country’s recognised armed forces on the same footing as the RSF and could restrict the army’s ability to protect civilians from the paramilitary group.
For Khartoum, the lifting of the curfew represents an attempt to restore everyday life after years of conflict. But continued fighting elsewhere in Sudan and the growing involvement of neighbouring countries mean the wider war remains far from over.