Sudan's Civil War Leaves Khartoum with Widespread Graves and Destruction

Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, has become marked by numerous graves following the civil war that started in April 2023. Residents buried their dead in available spaces such as schools, mosques, backyards, and sidewalks because official cemeteries were inaccessible.

A field near the campus contains multiple graves, described by a campus caretaker as holding hundreds or thousands of bodies. An adjacent lot has even more graves. The caretaker noted the uncertainty in the exact number.

Destruction from Fighting The war involved intense combat between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group.

After nearly two years, the army regained control of Khartoum. Evidence of the battles includes damaged walls, shredded pavement, and scarred surfaces in neighborhoods. The commercial district shows signs of gutting, looting, and burning.

At the National Museum, some ancient statues were damaged or stolen. The international airport, which reopened recently, has remnants of damaged propeller planes and an exploded jet on the grounds.

Efforts to Recover Remains Hisham Zain al-Abidin, head of the State Forensics Authority, stated that his agency sent teams in July to search for mass graves.

The teams included forensic experts, Civil Defense officials, Sudanese Red Crescent members, and neighborhood committee representatives. They collected about 23,000 bodies from roads, homes, and looted areas for reburial in cemeteries.