Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable | Africanews (https://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable//)  (http://fr.africanews.com/2026/09/27/soudan-le-retour-a-khartoum-vire-a-la-desillusion-pour-des-millions-dhabitants//)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable//)                                (http://www.africanews.com/amp/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)  (index.html)  (https://sdk.privacy-center.org) (https://fonts.googleapis.com)  (index.html)  (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png?v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png?v=3) (../../../../favicon-32x32.png@v=3) (../../../../android-chrome-192x192.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-96x96.png@v=3) (../../../../favicon-16x16.png@v=3) (../../../../manifest.json@v=3) (http://www.africanews.com/safari-pinned-tab.svg?v=3)   (RSS - News) (http://www.africanews.com/feed/rss?themes=news)  (../../../../css/lightslider-665bf9cf25.min.css)  (../../../../css/lightgallery-4d635ab111.min.css)  (../../../../css/video-js-8d393d09be.css)  (../../../../css/videojs-79556b8d53.ima.css)  (../../../../css/main-998c6e1382.css)     (index.html#start-of-content) Skip to main content   Welcome to Africanews Please select your experience     (http://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                (http://www.africanews.com/live/) (Africanews)        (en) En (fr) Fr    News  Join us (https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/)      (https://twitter.com/africanews)      (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews)    (https://www.youtube.com/c/africanews)      (https://www.linkedin.com/company/africanews?trk=biz-companies-cym)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en)                 (http://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News   (http://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business   (http://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport   (http://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture   (http://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology   (http://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment   (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/) (Programmes) Programmes   (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcast/) (Podcast) Podcast    (http://www.africanews.com/live/)  Live   (http://www.africanews.com/weather/)    (Search ...)             (http://www.africanews.com/weather/) weather  Close (index.html#)         (Search ...)     Watch Live     (http://www.africanews.com/news/) (News) News  (http://www.africanews.com/business/) (Business) Business  (http://www.africanews.com/sport/) (Sport) Sport  (http://www.africanews.com/culture/) (Culture) Culture  (http://www.africanews.com/science-technology/) (Science & Technology) Science & Technology  (http://www.africanews.com/no-comment/) (No Comment) No Comment  (http://www.africanews.com/programmes) (Programmes) Programmes  (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/af-podcast/) (Podcast) Podcast   (http://www.africanews.com/weather) (Weather) Weather      Breaking
                News  Close (index.html#)       (index.html#)  Just In (share_on_your_website) (share_on_your_website) Copy/paste the script below  (<iframe src="http://www.africanews.com/embed/timeline/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="min-height:500px; width:100%; height:100%;"></iframe>)  (http://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) OTHER WIDGETS       September 27, 2026  21:02   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/watch-mass-madrid-protests-over-maricarmen-eviction-and-housing-crisis/) (Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis) Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis      16:58   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/) (Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer) Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer      16:34   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/woman-found-dead-in-south-africa-toll-rises-to-11/) (South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm) South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm     Advertising     16:30   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/seven-killed-dozens-hurt-in-saudi-airstrike-on-yemen-market/) (Seven killed, dozens hurt in Saudi airstrike on Yemen market) Seven killed, dozens hurt in Saudi airstrike on Yemen market      16:29   (index.html) (Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable) Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable      15:38   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/ethiopians-celebrate-meskel-and-call-for-peace-amid-renewed-fighting/) (Ethiopians celebrate Meskel and call for peace amid renewed fighting) Ethiopians celebrate Meskel and call for peace amid renewed fighting      12:09   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/morocco-mothers-of-detained-genz-protestors-demand-their-release/) (Morocco: Mothers of detained GenZ protestors demand their release) Morocco: Mothers of detained GenZ protestors demand their release      10:49   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/safrican-women-runners-arm-themselves-after-string-of-killings/) (S.African women runners arm themselves after string of killings) S.African women runners arm themselves after string of killings      09:08   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/gunmen-kill-17-in-south-africa-bar-shooting-15-wounded-police/) (At least 27 people killed in two mass shootings in South Africa) At least 27 people killed in two mass shootings in South Africa      09:00   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/ebola-sharp-jump-in-cases-in-north-kivu-while-outbreak-slows-in-ituri/) (Ebola: Sharp jump in cases in North Kivu while outbreak slows in Ituri) Ebola: Sharp jump in cases in North Kivu while outbreak slows in Ituri     September 26, 2026  23:48   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/26/pope-leo-xiv-draws-800000-faithful-to-paris-before-emotional-lourdes-pilgrimage/) (Pope Leo XIV draws 800,000 faithful to Paris before emotional Lourdes pilgrimage) Pope Leo XIV draws 800,000 faithful to Paris before emotional Lourdes pilgrimage      16:46   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/26/guinea-opposition-figure-and-former-pm-toure-dies-in-paris/) (Guinea opposition figure and former PM Toure dies in Paris) Guinea opposition figure and former PM Toure dies in Paris      15:36   (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/26/new-rally-in-madrid-to-denounce-handling-of-the-ceuta-migration-crisis/) (New rally in Madrid to denounce handling of the Ceuta migration crisis) New rally in Madrid to denounce handling of the Ceuta migration crisis     Advertising       View more          (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/news/) News    (http://www.africanews.com/programmes/news/) (news)  Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable          (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (https://twitter.com/home?status=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (mailto:?subject=Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable&body=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (whatsapp://send?text=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)      Sudanese refugees, who fled to Egypt due to clashes between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), arrive in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026 -  Copyright © africanews  Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved    By Africanews  with AFP   Last updated: 10 hours ago    (http://www.africanews.com/tag/mohamed-hamdan-dagalo/) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo    They came home to a war-ruined city determined to rebuild their lives, but a chronic lack of power, water, jobs and medicine has left many residents of Sudan's capital wishing they had stayed away. About four million people fled Khartoum after war broke out between the army and a paramilitary force in 2023, in fighting that reduced large parts of the city to rubble. But the estimated 2.7 million who have returned since the army recaptured Khartoum last year are caught between joy at being home and the harsh realities of living there.     Businessman Emad Khaled said he was sending his family back to Egypt, while he remains in Khartoum for his work. "Bringing my family back was a mistake," the 43-year-old told AFP near the city centre, which is filled with blackened, bombed-out buildings. Multiple government officials, ordered back to Khartoum, told AFP they were also leaving their families outside the country. Fighting between the armed forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is still raging elsewhere in Sudan, including in the Darfur, Kordofan and Blue Nile regions. The army, strongly encouraging Khartoum's residents to return, rebuilt the airport and reopened it for domestic flights, and patched up infrastructure. However, electricity and water still go out for days at a time. And while markets across the capital are open again, many people are unemployed and have little money to spend. 'Price goes up every day'  By June, only one percent of Khartoum had been declared safe by the UN, with dozens of children killed and injured by booby-traps and unexploded shells lurking within walls and on street corners. Nearly half a million people have returned from neighbouring Egypt, where 1.5 million Sudanese sought shelter but faced soaring living costs, racial persecution, arrests and deportations. Khartoum's working-class neighbourhoods have seen the highest numbers of returnees, while most of those who can afford to stay away. Consequently, upscale districts such as Khartoum 2 lie abandoned. Along tree-lined avenues, glass crackles underfoot and only birdsong fills the air between empty villas, entire corners of them blown out by missiles. Thuraya Babiker, 86, thought she had returned for good. But three months later, "my husband, my youngest daughter and I are leaving for the United Arab Emirates", she told AFP. "We don't want to leave," she said, explaining that the lack of medical care makes it impossible to stay. As people started returning last year, Sudanese charities rushed to rebuild hospitals, some of which are now "better than before", health workers say. But despite their best efforts, physician Haifa Omar says "some things just aren't available". "We have to ask patients to buy some medicines on their own dime. I have a lump in my throat as I say it, we know how difficult people's situations are." College professor Imam Babiker has to visit 10 pharmacies to find his father's blood pressure medication, "and every day it's a different price", he said. The 34-year-old bought a refrigerator to store his diabetic mother's insulin, "but the electricity goes out for 12 hours a day, so it gets ruined," he told AFP. Others like Souad Mohamed, 49, had her fridge stolen by looters and couldn't afford a replacement. "So now I have to buy vegetables and meat every day, and the price goes up every day," she said.     You may also like     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/watch-mass-madrid-protests-over-maricarmen-eviction-and-housing-crisis/) (Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/watch-mass-madrid-protests-over-maricarmen-eviction-and-housing-crisis/)   01:00          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/watch-mass-madrid-protests-over-maricarmen-eviction-and-housing-crisis/) Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis     6 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/) (Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/)   01:51          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/) Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer     10 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/woman-found-dead-in-south-africa-toll-rises-to-11/) (South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm)         (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/woman-found-dead-in-south-africa-toll-rises-to-11/) South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm     10 hours ago          Share   (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (https://twitter.com/home?status=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (https://plus.google.com/share?url=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (mailto:?subject=Power cuts, rubble: millions come home to find Sudan's capital unlivable&body=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)    (whatsapp://send?text=http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/power-cuts-rubble-millions-come-home-to-find-sudans-capital-unlivable/)        More About  (http://www.africanews.com/tag/mohamed-hamdan-dagalo/) (Mohamed Hamdan Daglo) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo   (http://www.africanews.com/tag/civil-war/) (Civil War) Civil War   (http://www.africanews.com/tag/abdel-fattah-al-burhane/) (Abdel Fattah al-Burhan) Abdel Fattah al-Burhan              You may also like     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/watch-mass-madrid-protests-over-maricarmen-eviction-and-housing-crisis/) (Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/watch-mass-madrid-protests-over-maricarmen-eviction-and-housing-crisis/)   01:00          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/watch-mass-madrid-protests-over-maricarmen-eviction-and-housing-crisis/) Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis     6 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/) (Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/)   01:51          (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/) Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer     10 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/woman-found-dead-in-south-africa-toll-rises-to-11/) (South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm)         (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/woman-found-dead-in-south-africa-toll-rises-to-11/) South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm     10 hours ago          On the same subject      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/25/over-55000-sudanese-refugees-fled-to-east-chad-this-year-un/) (Over 55,000 Sudanese refugees fled to east Chad this year: UN)   NEWS   Go to video   Over 55,000 Sudanese refugees fled to east Chad this year: UN   25/09 - 18:43        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/24/mixed-reaction-in-bangui-to-icc-conviction-of-former-car-militia-commander/) (Mixed reaction in Bangui to ICC conviction of former CAR militia commander)   NEWS   01:32   Mixed reaction in Bangui to ICC conviction of former CAR militia commander   24/09 - 07:52        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/23/us-denies-visa-for-sudans-de-facto-leader-due-to-address-un/) (US denies visa for Sudan's de facto leader due to address UN)   NEWS   01:03   US denies visa for Sudan's de facto leader due to address UN   23/09 - 12:55        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/17/gunfire-everywhere-displaced-yemenis-describe-terrifying-journey-to-djibouti/) ('Gunfire everywhere': Displaced Yemenis describe terrifying journey to Djibouti)   NEWS   00:56   'Gunfire everywhere': Displaced Yemenis describe terrifying journey to Djibouti   17/09 - 20:56        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/16/surge-in-yemen-violence-ends-ceasefire-and-drives-mass-displacement/) (Surge in Yemen violence ends ceasefire and drives mass displacement)   NO COMMENT   01:00   Surge in Yemen violence ends ceasefire and drives mass displacement   16/09 - 08:42        (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/15/nearly-94000-displaced-by-renewed-fighting-in-yemen/) (Nearly 94,000 displaced by renewed fighting in Yemen)   NEWS   01:05   Nearly 94,000 displaced by renewed fighting in Yemen   15/09 - 12:03               More stories     (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/woman-found-dead-in-south-africa-toll-rises-to-11/) (South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm)     (http://www.africanews.com/country/south-africa/) South Africa      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/woman-found-dead-in-south-africa-toll-rises-to-11/) South Africa: 11th woman found dead as killings raise alarm     10 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/) (Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/)   01:51      (http://www.africanews.com/tag/cancer/) Cancer      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/nigerian-foundation-urges-early-screening-in-battle-against-childhood-cancer/) Nigerian foundation urges early screening in battle against childhood cancer     10 hours ago       (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/gunmen-kill-17-in-south-africa-bar-shooting-15-wounded-police/) (At least 27 people killed in two mass shootings in South Africa)  (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/gunmen-kill-17-in-south-africa-bar-shooting-15-wounded-police/)   01:09      (http://www.africanews.com/tag/shootings/) Shootings      (http://www.africanews.com/2026/09/27/gunmen-kill-17-in-south-africa-bar-shooting-15-wounded-police/) At least 27 people killed in two mass shootings in South Africa     12 hours ago               By using this website, you agree with our use of cookies to improve its performance and enhance your user experience. More info in our (http://www.africanews.com/page/cookie/) Cookies policy page .. Ok  (http://www.africanews.com/) (Africanews) ">                Social Channels (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1_E8NeF5QHY2dtdLRBCCLA) (youtube)           (https://twitter.com/africanews) (Twitter)    (https://flipboard.com/@Africanews) (Flipboard)    (https://www.facebook.com/Africanews-1004882306242283/) (facebook)    (https://www.instagram.com/africanews.en) (instagram)       (http://www.africanews.com/page/about/) About Africanews  (https://www.euronews.com/terms-and-conditions) Terms and Conditions  (http://www.africanews.com/page/contact/) Contacts  (https://www.euronews.com/cookie-policy) Cookie policy  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/distribution) Distribution  (https://www.euronews.com/commercial/advertising) Advertising  (http://www.africanews.com/page/jobs/) Jobs  (http://www.africanews.com/page/apps/) Apps  (http://www.africanews.com/page/widgets/) Widgets  (http://www.euronews.com) (Euronews - Latest international news) Euronews     Monday 28/09/2026  (en) English (fr) French