Sudan Ends Two‑Year Curfew and State of Emergency in Khartoum After Army Regains Capital
Sudan’s military‑led government has lifted the curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum more than two years after war erupted there, following the army’s recapture of the capital 18 months ago. The move signals growing confidence in the army’s grip on the city but leaves residents facing a fragile recovery from prolonged conflict.
Sudan’s authorities have lifted the night‑time curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum more than two years after they were imposed, according to state media, marking a new phase for a capital that was at the center of intense fighting.
The restrictions were introduced after war broke out in April 2023. Eighteen months ago, the army retook Khartoum from rival forces, and active fighting in the city was reported to have ended in March of the following year. Until now, however, the legal framework of emergency rule and curfew had remained in force.
Ending the curfew and emergency status indicates that the military‑led government believes its control over Khartoum is secure enough to ease formal wartime measures. Residents will face fewer constraints on movement and daily life, and some commercial activities that depend on evening hours may be able to resume.
At the same time, the city’s infrastructure and services have been heavily damaged by prolonged conflict, and many people remain displaced or live in neighborhoods with limited access to basics such as electricity, healthcare and schooling. Removing emergency powers does not in itself address these underlying problems.
For Sudan’s rulers, the decision sends a signal at home and abroad that the immediate security crisis in the capital has passed. It may be intended to create an impression of normalization ahead of potential political talks or efforts to secure reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.
Humanitarian organizations and regional observers are likely to treat the move with caution. Without a broader political settlement or clear plan for security sector reform, a city emerging from two years of emergency rule remains vulnerable to renewed instability.
Across Sudan, conflict and humanitarian needs continue well beyond Khartoum, so improvements in the capital may not reflect conditions elsewhere in the country.
Signals that could change the trajectory include any follow‑up steps toward a political transition, announcements on elections or power‑sharing, and evidence that basic services and economic activity in Khartoum are recovering. Conversely, reports of rising crime, militia activity or new clashes in the city would test whether lifting the emergency was premature.
Sources
- OSINT