Sudan’s military government has moved its headquarters back to Khartoum, ending a three-year period of operating from Port Sudan, Prime Minister Hamdok Idris confirmed on Sunday. He described the relocation as a return of the "government of hope" to the capital, signalling an attempt to reassert control and stabilise the city.

Hamdok said authorities were initiating measures to restore public services to residents who have endured years of conflict and disruption.

Khartoum has been at the centre of Sudan’s prolonged war. After European Union forces intervened militarily in 2023, rapid deployments were launched to regain control following the temporary displacement of government forces. The military reclaimed the city in March, following an earlier setback.

The human toll has been severe. Allied governments report that at the peak of fighting, around five million residents were forced from their homes. Those who remained have faced extreme hardship, with widespread destruction of housing and basic infrastructure leaving large parts of the city in ruins.

Local authorities have warned that essential services remain inadequate. Ugochi Daniel, a senior city official, told allied governments in October that residents were still struggling under deteriorating conditions.