{"id":12470,"date":"2025-04-17T10:34:45","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T08:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/?p=12470"},"modified":"2025-04-25T10:35:46","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T08:35:46","slug":"sudanese-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/sudanese-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Sudanese Refugees in Egypt Return Amid Khartoum Offensive"},"content":{"rendered":"

The recent territorial advances by the Sudanese army in the capital, Khartoum\u2014followed by the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)\u2014have led a growing number of Sudanese refugees residing in Egypt to decide on voluntary repatriation to their homeland. In a remarkable scene during Eid al-Fitr, hundreds of refugees gathered on Faisal Street in Cairo, preparing to depart via buses heading to Sudan through the Halfa and Arqeen border crossings. These departures are organized under initiatives led by Sudanese civil society in collaboration with members of the diaspora.<\/p>\n

On April 1st, the \u201cReturning to the Land of the Good\u201d initiative, which supports refugee repatriation, launched ten buses to offer low-cost transportation for returnees. The initiative also provides free return for low-income families and people with disabilities, according to Mohamed Suleiman, founder of the initiative and a member of the Sudanese community in Egypt, in an interview with Zawia3<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Suleiman explained that one of the main drivers behind the return is the severe deterioration of the economic conditions facing refugees. Many of them previously relied on monthly remittances from Sudan, but the sharp decline in the Sudanese pound against the Egyptian pound\u2014now at approximately 0.08 EGP\u2014rendered these remittances ineffective. He also noted the disappointment of many Sudanese families over the UNHCR\u2019s failure to provide sufficient financial support, which forced them to seek employment in Egypt with wages that do not match the high cost of living.<\/p>\n

He added that the administrative and financial difficulties families encountered in attempting to enroll their children in Sudanese schools in Egypt further accelerated their decision to return\u2014even before the full liberation of Sudanese cities.<\/p>\n

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A Sudanese community member in Cairo stands beside a sign for the \u201cReturning to the Land of the Good\u201d initiative, as refugees prepare to depart for Sudan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Suleiman said the initiative dedicated specific support to the most vulnerable returnees: \u201cWe provide free tickets for struggling families, the blind, and individuals with disabilities, thanks to donations from Sudanese donors in Europe and the United States.\u201d He added that the initiative, which later expanded into several subsidiary campaigns, operated buses at a rate of one trip every two days, each carrying more than 150 refugees.<\/p>\n

Suleiman estimated that approximately 50,000 people per month return via the Ashkeet border crossing in Halfa. He noted that the pace of returns has accelerated in parallel with the liberation of more areas by the Sudanese army, bringing the total number of returnees\u2014by his estimation\u2014to nearly 600,000 so far.<\/p>\n

Despite the momentum behind the \u201cReturning to the Land of the Good\u201d initiative, it was not the first of its kind. It was preceded by the \u201cAl-Insirafi\u201d initiative launched last year, which facilitated the return of thousands of Sudanese to their homeland free of charge. However, a lack of funding brought it to a halt just before the previous Ramadan, according to Hamid Youssef, the initiative\u2019s founder and a member of the Sudanese community in Egypt, speaking to Zawia3<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Hamid said, \u201cWe operated three weekly trips, each with three or four buses, carrying around 50 passengers per bus. We transported them from Cairo to the Sudanese city of Halfa, where other initiatives took over in helping them reach their original hometowns\u2014or they continued the journey at their own expense. Although thousands applied for registration, we couldn\u2019t meet all the demand due to funding shortages, forcing some to pay for their own return.\u201d<\/p>\n

Youssef explained that the estimated cost of voluntary return is around 5,000 Egyptian pounds per person\u2014an amount many Sudanese refugees in Egypt cannot afford, especially amid rising living expenses and a growing longing for home following the announcement of Khartoum\u2019s liberation. He added that this financial obstacle remains one of the main challenges for those wishing to return, despite the procedural facilitation by Egyptian authorities at the border, which includes checking documentation and routine inspections to prevent smuggling of goods or prohibited items, while allowing personal luggage but not furniture or heavy belongings.<\/p>\n

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He also pointed to frequent complaints by Sudanese refugees regarding UNHCR procedures, as closing a refugee\u2019s registration file with the UNHCR can take up to three months\u2014complicating immediate return decisions and leaving many stuck in an indefinite state of uncertainty.<\/p>\n

On March 26, the Sudanese army commander, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced from within the Republican Palace that full control had been regained over the capital, Khartoum, declaring it \u201cliberated from RSF militias,\u201d as he put it. In its statements, the army said its forces had secured control over the Taiba Camp, which was considered the militia\u2019s last stronghold in the capital, in addition to securing Khartoum International Airport, one of the city\u2019s key strategic sites.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the RSF commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo\u2014known as \u201cHemedti\u201d\u2014responded with defiant statements, saying that \u201cthe war in Sudan is still at its beginning,\u201d stressing that his forces\u2019 withdrawal from the capital does not mark the end of the conflict. In media statements, he threatened to redeploy more organized and fierce troops into Khartoum, describing the retreat from Omdurman as a \u201ccollective decision by RSF leadership and operations management, dictated by field circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since the outbreak of fighting between the army and the RSF in April 2023, Sudan has witnessed one of the worst humanitarian disasters in its modern history. Ongoing battles have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 11 million people\u2014including 3.1 million who fled to neighboring countries, according to United Nations statistics\u2014making this conflict one of the largest displacement crises in the world.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Don’t miss: Escaping War in Sudan Doesn\u2019t Mean Survival in Egypt<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Return Amid Challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite the extensive destruction in Sudan\u2019s capital, Akmal Mahdawi, 62, chose to return home. After living for two years in Cairo\u2019s Al-Haram district, he recently traveled to Sudan to oversee his business, leaving his family behind in Egypt. The latest developments\u2014chiefly the army\u2019s reclaiming of Khartoum\u2014led him to decide to reunite with his family and resettle permanently.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a group of Sudanese refugees who prefer to stay in Egypt, but the vast majority long to return home,\u201d Mahdawi told Zawia3. \u201cSure, life in Egypt is cheaper, more beautiful, and easier compared to Sudan, where destruction is widespread and challenges are immense. But with no job opportunities, staying in Egypt becomes a form of slow death for Sudanese people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zakiyah Ali, 45, was among those forced to flee their homes due to the war. She settled with her family in Egypt\u2019s southern Aswan governorate. Upon hearing the news of Khartoum\u2019s liberation, she ululated in joy and decided\u2014with her family\u2014to return to Sudan in the coming days, hoping for a fresh start.<\/p>\n

\u201cExile and war taught us a lot,\u201d she told Zawia3, \u201cand helped us realize the value of our homeland, which now needs us more than ever. If the war stops, there will be room for small and medium-sized projects and opportunities for development and investment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet not everyone shares this sentiment. Abubakr Hassan, 29, currently residing in Cairo\u2019s Faisal district, has opted to remain in Egypt, dismissing voluntary return amid Sudan\u2019s deteriorating situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI prefer life in Egypt,\u201d he told Zawia3, \u201cbecause no one here asks about my tribe or ethnic identity. So why would I return to a place where I\u2019m treated like a homeless person with no dignity?\u201d<\/p>\n

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Egypt is currently the largest host country for Sudanese refugees, according to official figures from the Egyptian government<\/a>. Over 1.2 million Sudanese nationals have sought international protection in Egypt. The UNHCR reports that Egypt hosts about 546,746 registered Sudanese refugees, while others are still waiting for registration. Sudanese nationals represent nearly two-thirds of Egypt\u2019s total registered refugee population of 827,644 from 95 nationalities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Returning into the Unknown<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Noon Kashkoush, Director of the Al Jazeera Human Rights Observatory and a member of Sudan\u2019s Emergency Lawyers Initiative, believes that Sudanese who fled to Egypt and Kenya are currently in safer and more stable conditions than those who remained inside Sudan or fled to Ethiopia. Speaking to Zawia3, she explained that Khartoum and other areas recently reclaimed by the Sudanese army still face widespread insecurity, nearly complete infrastructure collapse, and failing basic services\u2014such as electricity, water, and communications\u2014alongside a total breakdown of the health sector. She also noted ongoing drone strikes by the Rapid Support Forces on northern states near the Egyptian border and continued attacks on civilians in Omdurman.<\/p>\n

She added that even in \u201cliberated\u201d areas, infectious diseases like cholera are spreading in the absence of adequate healthcare services. She called for urgent international humanitarian intervention to address the healthcare gap. Kashkoush documented several incidents of armed robbery in these areas, further highlighting the security vacuum and making safe return unlikely. She stressed that no return will be viable without international efforts to restore security and basic services, and to make the country livable again.<\/p>\n

Human rights expert and civil society activist Dr. Mohamed Satti Naqdallah echoed this concern. He told Zawia3 that the return of Sudanese refugees remains dependent on an uncertain future. Despite military advances by the Sudanese Armed Forces, the absence of political agreements on ceasefires, disarmament, and militia demobilization severely hinders prospects for a safe return.<\/p>\n

Naqdallah warned about the widespread availability of weapons among non-state armed groups, such as \u201cAl-Bara Brigades\u201d and \u201cKikal,\u201d which pose a serious threat to stability\u2014especially as the RSF continues to launch drone attacks even after retreating from various regions.<\/p>\n

He emphasized that the massive destruction of infrastructure\u2014including water and power stations, hospitals, and service facilities, as well as industrial and productive assets\u2014makes the idea of returning and rebuilding far-fetched. Sudanese in Egypt and other host countries are increasingly worried about access to safe schooling for their children and the loss of livelihoods and property back home.<\/p>\n

Naqdallah concluded that return movements in the near future will likely remain limited to a few family members testing the situation on the ground or those facing severe financial pressure in host countries. He believes that a large-scale, safe return will not happen without a comprehensive peace agreement and significant international support for reconstruction.<\/p>\n

Sudanese journalist Saif al-Din Suleiman, editor-in-chief of the SudanZoom network and currently residing in Egypt, said return journeys to Sudan remain risky due to collapsed infrastructure, extensive damage to homes, and buildings being turned into military outposts or weapons depots. He cited ongoing insecurity, the presence of looting gangs allied with the RSF, and continued drone strikes, saying these make renewed fighting between the army and militias a real possibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cKhartoum is still a disaster zone,\u201d he told Zawia3. \u201cGangs roam the city, corpses remain in the streets, and the infrastructure is destroyed. So returning to Sudan is like walking into the unknown. It\u2019s the responsibility of those returning\u2014not the result of state support or an initiative by the Sudanese embassy in Cairo.\u201d<\/p>\n

He argued that the worsening economic conditions for Sudanese refugees in Egypt\u2014rising rent, high cost of living, scarce job opportunities, loss of assets due to the war, closure of Sudanese schools, and security harassment\u2014have recently pushed many Sudanese in Egypt to choose voluntary return to the safer parts of Sudan.<\/p>\n

On March 27, Sudanese government spokesperson Khalid al-Ayeser called on Sudanese expatriates to return home and contribute to rebuilding efforts. He announced that the government is developing future plans and incentives to facilitate their return.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, security tensions have flared up in Khartoum and Jabal Awliya. Videos circulated online have documented field executions by Sudanese army members and allied militias targeting prisoners and civilians in several districts of the capital, including Buri, Al-Gereif West, Al-Sahafat, Mayo, Al-Azhari, and Al-Kalaklat.<\/p>\n

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According to a statement issued by Sudan\u2019s Emergency Lawyers on March 31, these incidents coincided with a social media campaign led by activists and army supporters to justify these acts. The group described the violations\u2014justified on allegations of collaboration with the RSF\u2014as grave breaches of national and international law. They warned that such rhetoric fosters hate speech, encourages vigilantism, and threatens Sudan\u2019s social fabric by normalizing extrajudicial violence and score-settling<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Reconstruction<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Decisions regarding the voluntary return of Sudanese refugees in Egypt are driven by several overlapping factors, most notably the desire of many families to check on their homes and properties, and the harsh economic conditions facing refugees in Egypt\u2014particularly families that lost their sources of income in Sudan and have struggled to integrate into Egypt\u2019s labor market. This is explained by Dr. Amani El-Tawil, Sudanese affairs expert and Director of the Africa Program at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, in her interview with Zawia3.<\/p>\n

El-Tawil notes that the overwhelming majority of returnees are heading toward eastern and central Sudan, as these regions have suffered less infrastructural damage compared to the capital, Khartoum, which will likely see delayed returns due to the extent of destruction. According to her estimates, some men may return first to contribute to reconstruction efforts and prepare living conditions for their families to follow later.<\/p>\n

She stresses that Sudan\u2019s path to stability depends on the political conduct of the military institution in the coming period. If the Sudanese army maintains a neutral stance among political factions and allows civilians to forge an inclusive political framework rooted in national reconciliation and transitional justice, this will be key to restoring security and rebuilding trust. However, if the army chooses to retain power directly or favors allied civilian forces that supported it during recent battles, it may jeopardize stability and risk renewed conflict, especially in the northern, eastern, and central states.<\/p>\n

El-Tawil warns that any settlement lacking genuine national reconciliation will leave western Sudan and Darfur in a state of security fragility\u2014despite existing grassroots support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in those areas\u2014due to escalating political tensions with local rivals. She also cautions that ongoing unresolved conflicts may revive the scenario of Sudan\u2019s partition. She points to domestic factions supporting this direction, as well as what she describes as \u201can international partition plan\u201d led by Israel, leaving Sudan facing an uncertain future even amid current military advances.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ambassador Mona Omar\u2014rapporteur of the Foreign Relations Committee, member of the National Council for Women, and former Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs\u2014told Zawia3 that there is a real opportunity for stability in Sudan and the voluntary return of its refugees. With Khartoum liberated and the Sudanese army achieving victories while RSF leader Hemeti is in hiding, Sudan needs its citizens to return and participate in reconstruction. She believes there is potential for national stability, government formation, and eventual elections.<\/p>\n

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The former Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs also believes that the reconstruction process will take years, given the vast destruction of homes, public buildings, and institutions, along with the displacement and forced evacuation of residents. She notes that Sudan is a poor country and will require international support at a time when the global community is preoccupied with other crises, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the genocide in Gaza, and the conflict in the Congo. She also acknowledges the possibility of renewed military conflict in Sudan.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

While many Sudanese refugees in Egypt have renewed hopes of returning home following the liberation of Khartoum and increased participation in voluntary repatriation initiatives, concerns persist. The potential resurgence of military confrontations, the looming threat of national fragmentation, and the extensive damage inflicted on homes and infrastructure in Khartoum and other cities continue to cast a shadow over Sudanese aspirations for stability and a dignified life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hundreds of Sudanese refugees in Egypt are returning home following the Sudanese army\u2019s recent advances in Khartoum, despite ongoing instability and harsh living conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":11267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[390],"tags":[10727,10712,10724,2857,10719,10717,10725,10711,10713,10714,10726,10722,10729,10715,10720,10728,10718,10723,10721,10716],"kateb":[1550],"class_list":["post-12470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-human-rights","tag-egypt-sudan-refugee-crisis-response","tag-khartoum-offensive","tag-life-challenges-for-sudanese-refugees-in-cairo","tag-refugee-crisis","tag-sudan-army","tag-sudan-border","tag-sudan-conflict-drives-return-decisions","tag-sudan-refugees","tag-sudan-return","tag-sudan-war","tag-sudan-war-impact-on-diaspora","tag-sudanese-army-recaptures-khartoum-triggers-return","tag-sudanese-community-initiatives-for-refugee-return","tag-sudanese-in-egypt","tag-sudanese-refugees-return-from-egypt-after-khartoum-liberation","tag-sudanese-return-through-argeen-and-halfa","tag-unhcr-sudan","tag-unhcr-support-lacking-for-sudanese-in-egypt","tag-voluntary-repatriation-of-sudanese-amid-war","tag-voluntary-return","kateb-aya-yasser"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/\u0646\u0633\u062e\u0629-\u0645\u0646-\u0627\u0644\u0633\u0648\u062f\u0627\u0646-.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12470"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12470\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12472,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12470\/revisions\/12472"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12470"},{"taxonomy":"kateb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kateb?post=12470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}