Full Breakdown
Sudan Lifts Two-Year Curfew and State of Emergency in Khartoum
8/29/2026, 11:28:50 AM
Core Development
On 27 August 2026 the Security Affairs Coordination Committee announced the removal of Khartoum’s curfew and state of emergency, both of which had been in place for more than two years. The committee, chaired by Khartoum Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza, said residents may now move and work at any hour, although security checkpoints and army patrols will remain active. Night-time travelers are required to carry identification, and foreign nationals without valid visas are barred from entering the city by public or private transport.
Background & Context
The conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023, prompting a mass exodus of roughly five million residents from the capital. In May 2024 the army imposed a curfew that restricted movement from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and halted commercial traffic. After the army reclaimed control of Khartoum about 18 months later, fighting shifted to the south and west, where clashes continue. The lifting of restrictions follows the end of major combat in Khartoum earlier this year.
Official Statements & Responses
Khartoum state-government spokesperson Altayeb Saadeldin told Reuters that extensive looting of copper wires, fuel and other components, together with alleged RSF drone attacks on electricity infrastructure, caused the city’s chronic power blackouts. An RSF source rejected these claims as “incorrect and army propaganda.” The Security Affairs Coordination Committee also warned that security sweeps will target alleged RSF sleeper cells, undocumented foreigners and illegal activities. U.S. Senior Adviser Massad Boulos condemned recent Sudanese-armed-forces air strikes inside Chad, calling for a humanitarian truce. Chad’s government alleged that a Sudanese air strike hit a military convoy about 100 km inside its territory on 20 August, a claim the Sudanese side denies.
Data & Statistics
The International Organization for Migration reports that more than two million of the displaced have returned to Khartoum since fighting ceased, out of an estimated five million who fled. United Nations and other international estimates place war-related deaths in the tens of thousands and displacement at roughly 13 million people. Power outages persist, attributed to both infrastructure damage and limited repair funding.
Impact and Outlook
The government has reopened Khartoum International Airport for limited flights and is urging businesses and embassies to resume operations. Nonetheless, residents face widespread building damage, looted properties and ongoing electricity shortages. Security patrols and identification checks are expected to continue, while fighting in Sudan’s south and west remains unresolved, raising concerns about further regional spillover.
