Sudan’s top officials visit Khartoum as government plans return to capital

August 23, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Two of Sudan’s top officials visited Khartoum on Saturday to assess security as the government plans to relocate back to the capital by October after more than two years of conflict.

Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Malik Agar, and Deputy Commander of the Army, Shams al-Din Kabbashi, arrived in the city to oversee the restoration of basic services and meet with military leaders, according to the Sovereign Council.

Sudan’s government has been operating from the Red Sea city of Port Sudan since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023. The government has recently accelerated efforts to rebuild infrastructure and restore electricity, water, and health services in Khartoum to facilitate its return.

Agar met with the governor of Khartoum state, Ahmed Osman Hamza, to discuss preparations for the return of displaced civilians, including significant efforts to provide water, electricity, and security, according to the state’s official media platform.

“A great deal of work is needed to transform the results of the war into positive action and to address the effects of the conflict through societal reconciliation,” Agar was quoted as saying. He also highlighted the need to tackle the proliferation of weapons.

Separately, Kabbashi met with the army’s new general staff to review the military and security situation on the ground, according to a separate release from the Sovereignty Council.

During the conflict, the Khartoum state government operated from Karari, the only one of the capital’s seven localities that remained under army control.

The governor briefed Agar on progress in restoring services, stating that all water stations were now operational and roads had been cleared of rubble, the official platform reported.