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Hundreds of Sudanese refugees crowded into Cairo’s main train station on Monday, boarding trains bound for Khartoum as part of a new initiative by the Egyptian government to facilitate voluntary returns to war-torn Sudan.
The campaign offers free train rides to Sudanese refugees who wish to return to the capital, which was recently reclaimed by the Sudanese Armed Forces after months of brutal fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The recapture of Khartoum marks a tentative turning point in a devastating conflict that has raged since April 2023.
The power struggle between the military and the RSF has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. More than 40,000 people have been killed, and millions displaced, creating one of the largest refugee flows in recent history. The capital, once a battleground, is now slowly beginning to rebuild, prompting some displaced citizens to make the difficult decision to return home.
Egypt has borne a significant share of the displacement burden, hosting more than 1.5 million Sudanese refugees since the outbreak of the war. While many have struggled to rebuild their lives in exile, the Egyptian government’s transport initiative provides a way for those seeking to reunite with family or reclaim their homes in Khartoum.
Although conditions in the Sudanese capital remain fragile, the return of civilians signals cautious optimism amid the ongoing instability. For many, the journey home is both a risk and a symbol of hope — a step toward healing after more than a year of devastation.
