Sudan’s military-backed authorities have abolished the nighttime curfew and state of emergency that had remained in force in the capital, Khartoum, for more than two years.
The move comes about 18 months after Sudan’s armed forces recaptured the capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ending major fighting in the city in March 2025.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has now entered its fourth year, with intense hostilities continuing in parts of southern and western Sudan.
The authorities say the decision is intended to support the return of normal activities and encourage residents, companies and foreign missions to resume operations in Khartoum.
According to the International Organization for Migration, more than two million of the estimated five million people who escaped the capital after the outbreak of the conflict have since returned.
Khartoum’s main airport has also resumed limited flights as the government attempts to revive the city’s economy.
However, returning residents face enormous challenges.
Numerous properties have been damaged or stripped of valuables, while businesses and homes remain in poor condition.
Frequent electricity failures have further complicated efforts to restore normal life.
Khartoum state government spokesperson Altayeb Saadeldin said the power network had suffered extensive damage.
He attributed the outages to attacks involving drones, the removal of copper cables, theft of fuel and other equipment, as well as insufficient government resources for reconstruction.
The RSF has rejected the accusations, describing them as false claims and military propaganda.
Although the emergency restrictions have been removed, security measures remain in place.
The Sudan News Agency reported that security personnel would continue conducting patrols throughout the state, while people travelling after dark would be required to carry identification.
BBC Monitoring reports indicate that army units are still conducting operations in the wider Khartoum area.
These searches reportedly focus on suspected RSF operatives, undocumented migrants and individuals believed to be involved in criminal activities.
Meanwhile, fears are growing that Sudan’s conflict could spread beyond its borders.
Chadian authorities have accused Sudan’s army of launching an air attack on a military convoy in Chad’s Ennedi-Est province on 20 August.
The location of the incident was reportedly about 100km inside Chadian territory, prompting Chad to place its troops along the frontier on heightened alert.
Sudan has denied responsibility for the strike and questioned why its armed forces were blamed before an independent inquiry had been conducted.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said the army was carrying out its constitutional responsibility to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while maintaining respect for neighbouring nations.
Khartoum has, in turn, accused Chad of facilitating the movement of military equipment destined for the RSF, allegedly supplied by the United Arab Emirates through Chadian airports and border routes.
Both Chad and the UAE have rejected those claims, although similar concerns have previously been raised by United Nations experts and international media investigations.
The dispute has heightened international concern over the possibility of the Sudanese war destabilising the wider region.
US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos has condemned the reported strikes and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Boulos said there was no military answer to the conflict and warned against extending the fighting into neighbouring countries.
He also called for an end to foreign financial and military assistance to both sides.
The US administration has been pressing Sudan’s rival factions to agree to a temporary truce.
However, the military leadership has resisted peace negotiations unless the RSF first gives up its weapons and leaves areas under its control.
Washington has also proposed extending a United Nations arms embargo, originally imposed on Darfur in 2005, to cover the whole of Sudan.
The proposed measures would also restrict the supply of attack drones, which have become increasingly important weapons for both forces.
Sudan’s government and military have opposed the proposal, arguing that imposing restrictions on the national armed forces would unfairly place them on the same footing as the RSF and weaken their ability to confront the insurgency.
Despite the easing of restrictions in Khartoum, the continuing battles elsewhere and rising tensions along Sudan’s borders indicate that the country’s devastating conflict remains far from over.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong