Khartoum curfew lifted as Sudanese military consolidates control amid ongoing conflict elsewhere

What happened

BBC Africa reports that Sudan’s military-led government has lifted a curfew and the state of emergency in Khartoum that had been in place for over two years. This follows the army’s retaking control of the capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) 18 months earlier. However, the civil war continues in southern and western parts of Sudan.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. More than two million of the roughly five million people who fled Khartoum since the fighting began in April 2023 have returned, according to the International Organization for Migration. The government aims to restore normal life in Khartoum by reopening airports and encouraging business and diplomatic activity to resume. Despite this, residents still face widespread damage and hardship, including extensive looting and persistent power outages attributed by state officials to RSF drone attacks and infrastructure theft.

A spokesperson for the Khartoum state government cited significant targeting of the electricity network, including looting of copper wires and fuel, as causes of power blackouts. An RSF source dismissed these allegations as 'incorrect and army propaganda'. The authorities continue to maintain heightened security measures, including patrols to counter alleged RSF sleeper cells and requiring identification for nighttime travel, according to Sudan News Agency and BBC Monitoring reports.

Known from the source

• Sudan’s military-led government lifted a curfew and state of emergency in Khartoum after more than two years.
• The army retook control of Khartoum from the RSF around 18 months ago.
• Clashes continue in southern and western Sudan.
• Over two million people have returned to Khartoum since March 2025, per the International Organization for Migration.
• Power outages in Khartoum have been attributed by Sudanese authorities to alleged RSF drone attacks and theft of infrastructure components.

What remains unclear

The conflict is increasingly engulfing neighboring countries. Chad has accused Sudan’s military of carrying out an air strike on a military convoy inside Chadian territory on August 20, a claim Sudan denies, emphasizing that any accusations lack independent investigation. Sudan has also accused Chad of allowing RSF military supplies through its borders, which Chad and the UAE deny despite UN expert findings and investigative media reports. The United States has condemned cross-border strikes and called for a halt to external support to the warring parties, while proposing UN Security Council measures to extend arms embargoes and drone bans, which Sudan’s government rejects.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Independent verification of continued clashes outside Khartoum. Verification of casualty figures or damage severity from both sides. Independent assessment of the alleged RSF drone attacks and infrastructure damage.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: BBC Africa Sudan. Open the source.