Monday, 25 May 2026
Photo by Tamer Abdeen
Sudanese nationals begin voluntary return home from Egypt
Sudanese nationals in Egypt began gathering at Ramses railway station in Cairo today, following an announcement by Egyptian National Railways that a special train would be dispatched from Cairo to Aswan.
This initiative aims to facilitate the voluntary return of Sudanese citizens to their homeland, marking a significant development amid the ongoing crisis in Sudan.
The sight of Sudanese families, some with minimal belongings, preparing for the long journey south underscores the complex challenges faced by those displaced by the conflict. While some may be eager to return in hopes of improved conditions, others likely face difficult decisions about leaving the relative safety of Egypt for an uncertain future in Sudan.
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict since April 15, 2023, when clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo. The fighting, primarily concentrated in the capital Khartoum and the Darfur region, quickly escalated into a full-blown civil war.
The roots of the conflict lie in a power struggle that emerged following the 2019 overthrow of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir. Both the SAF and RSF were key players in the transitional government, but deep-seated rivalries, disagreements over security sector reform, and a contentious timeline for integrating the RSF into the regular army ultimately led to the outbreak of hostilities.
The conflict has had catastrophic humanitarian consequences, resulting in thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, a severe food crisis, and the near-total collapse of essential services. International efforts to mediate a ceasefire and achieve a lasting political solution have so far yielded limited success.
Egypt has been a primary destination for Sudanese fleeing the violence, sharing a long border and historical ties.