Sudan authorities close part of Khartoum after shell explosion
April 4, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities temporarily closed an area in eastern Khartoum on Saturday to search for unexploded remnants of war after a shell exploded, causing panic among residents, a government official said.
The explosion occurred in the Nasir Extension, Block 1, on Friday night. The blast was triggered when residents burned waste over the site where the projectile was buried, producing a sound that could be heard in distant neighbourhoods.
Major General Khalid Hamdan, Director of Mine Action, told Sudan Tribune that authorities had cordoned off the site for several days. Specialized teams have been deployed to sweep the area and ensure no other unexploded ordnances remain.
Preliminary field investigations suggest the blast was caused by an old 130mm or 155mm rocket or shell. The force of the explosion left a deep crater but resulted in no casualties or property damage.
Khartoum Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza visited the site immediately after the incident to oversee the implementation of precautionary measures. He urged residents to avoid burning trash within residential areas, particularly those previously occupied by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), due to the risk of buried explosives.
Eastern Khartoum neighbourhoods were the site of intense ground battles, airstrikes, and drone attacks starting in April 2023. The Sudanese army regained control of the state in March 2025 following fierce clashes.
The military’s territorial gains have encouraged residents to return home as authorities work to restore water, electricity, education, and health services, despite the ongoing conflict in other regions.
General Hamdan explained that the projectile had been buried deep underground and had failed to detonate during previous combat. The intense heat from the trash fire ignited the device.
He noted that while mines are typically planted in transit routes rather than inside homes, the incident reinforces the threat posed by buried remnants of war in urban settings.
Marking International Day for Mine Awareness, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan Denise Brown said the ongoing conflict has significantly increased explosive ordnance contamination in both urban and rural areas.
Brown warned that such contamination poses a daily risk to civilians and obstructs humanitarian access, putting aid workers at greater risk as they attempt to reach those in need.
“Mine action is an urgent humanitarian necessity,” Brown said. “It enables safe access, supports returns, and is a prerequisite for recovery and reconstruction. While efforts are expanding, the scale of contamination continues to outpace the response.”
The army’s control over Khartoum state has led to a revival in daily life and local markets, prompting the United Nations and several embassies to resume operations in the capital, despite lingering security and service challenges.