As security improves in Sudan, hundreds of refugees who had fled to Egypt are returning home, with daily crossings of the border. Since the onset of the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April, about 1.2 million Sudanese sought refuge in Egypt, out of the 3.3 million who fled the country. This influx of returnees follows a significant military operation launched on September 26, which saw the Sudanese army successfully reclaim key areas, including Omdurman, parts of Khartoum, and Sennar state.
Al-Tahir Abdeen, who returned to Sudan with his family of five, shared that they felt it was safe to return to their hometown of Al Dindir after the area was recaptured from the RSF. Many families are now choosing to return, particularly after their savings have been depleted. Abdeen explained that he had initially fled to Cairo via smuggling routes due to Egypt’s stringent visa policies and delays in processing applications.
On Monday, 678 people, mainly families, returned to Sudan, crossing through the Ashkit border crossing. This marks a significant increase, with an average of 500 to 600 people returning daily. The returnees have been able to cross more smoothly thanks to coordination between the authorities in Sudan and Egypt. Thousands of Sudanese had previously resorted to smuggling in order to reach Egypt due to the country’s strict visa requirements and security measures.