Sudanese committee orders security crackdown, military exit from Khartoum

June 20, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese state security committee on Saturday ordered a decisive crackdown on all security violations by military personnel inside the capital Khartoum, mandating the removal of military presences and a ban on carrying weapons in public places.

The order by the Committee for Enforcing State Authority and Restoring Security comes amid a visible spread of combat vehicles in markets and residential areas. Armed individuals, mostly belonging to factions allied with the army, continue to mingle with civilians despite prior directives to clear the capital of armed groups.

Defence Minister Hassan Dawoud Kabroun chaired the committee’s eighth security meeting on Saturday. The session was attended by Interior Minister Babiker Samra Mustafa, Khartoum State Governor Ahmed Osman Hamza, and senior military and police officials.

Fath al-Rahman Mohamed al-Tom, head of the committee’s media wing, said the meeting focused on clearing Khartoum state of military formations, weapons collection, securing the capital, and clearing informal settlements. The measures aim to restore security, stability, and state authority, he added.

The committee issued immediate directives to deal decisively with all security breaches, whether committed by military personnel or civilians. It also banned the carrying of weapons, ordered the removal of negative phenomena, and prohibited the use of motorcycles.

The meeting instructed competent authorities to deploy security patrols, set up checkpoints, and establish security cordons across all localities in Khartoum state. Authorities will coordinate fully with the Khartoum State Security Committee to prevent any disruptions to public order.

Sudanese authorities have sought to enforce security since recapturing Khartoum in May 2025. However, frequent shooting incidents have persisted due to the proliferation of weapons and the presence of army-allied groups in parts of the state.

On May 2, Khartoum state police reported that a member of the regular forces returning from military operations opened fire on a patrol during an attempted arrest. The incident at the Sabrin market in Omdurman resulted in the soldier’s death and left two patrol officers wounded.