Khartoum Shows Uneven Recovery as Residents Weigh Return

War-damaged Khartoum shows uneven recovery as residents weigh return amid fragile services and economy. Night often hides imperfections, but in Sudan’s capital, the scars of war are laid bare in daylight. Neighbourhoods and homes lie in ruins, yet signs of recovery are visible along the city’s roads, with rubble cleared and traffic slowly returning.

Despite these signs of normality, refugees and displaced residents, many of whom fled more than three years ago, are returning cautiously, as official statements about life returning to normal often clash with the realities on the ground.

Jazeera’s observations during a tour of Khartoum reveal stark differences across the city. Wealthy districts, particularly in the east, remain largely deserted. This includes neighbourhoods from Garden City in the north, stretching through Manshiya, Riyadh, Taif, Maamoura, Arkawit, Mujahideen and other affluent districts in the south.

In central Khartoum, silence hangs over the ruined Arab Market and city centre. The area was once home to most ministries, institutions, banks and the central gold market. Signs of life are scarce, except along Freedom Street, known for electrical appliances and equipment, where shops have reopened and shoppers have begun to return.

Neighbourhoods such as Khartoum 1, 2, and 3, al-Amarat, al-Sahafa, and Yathrib remain largely empty, with only a limited number of residents back. At night, these neighbourhoods fall into darkness due to the lack of electricity, while during the day, the heavy traffic along Sixty Street stands out.

Families in these neighbourhoods are approaching the decision to return carefully, while others are postponing it until services improve and life becomes closer to normal. Many homeowners are not under severe economic pressure, and some have already established themselves abroad.

The decision to return is influenced by several factors, including income, children’s education, healthcare services, and confidence in ongoing security and stability. In northern Omdurman, Karari locality has seen both economic and population growth.

Social experts note that hesitation to return stems not only from economic conditions and services, but also from the psychological effects of the war. Some families suffered trauma through the loss of relatives, the destruction of homes, looting, or long periods in conflict zones, creating lasting fear associated with the area itself.

Sudanese families is no longer a simple routine. In recent weeks, it has become a struggle, as prices shift rapidly amid a severe economic crisis and the ongoing war. In markets across Khartoum state, scenes of residents moving between shops in search of small price differences have become a daily routine, with many buying only part of their needs or skipping basic goods that were once taken for granted.

Even bread has become a burden for low-income families and those who lost their income, after its price rose to five times its pre-war level. A tour of shops and grocery stores shows that most goods are imported from Egypt by land and from Saudi Arabia by sea, while some Sudanese industries — particularly dairy products, mineral water and processed meat — have resumed production.

Transport costs between the main urban centres of Greater Khartoum have risen, adding to the burden on residents.