Sudan

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Updated: August 20, 2026

🇸🇩 Sudan

Capital: Khartoum

Khartoum – Sudan’s capital at the meeting point of the Blue Nile and White Nile.

Khartoum is the capital of Sudan and lies where the Blue Nile and White Nile meet to form the main Nile. Together with Omdurman and Khartoum North (Bahri), it forms the country’s largest urban area and has long served as Sudan’s main center of national government, higher education, commerce, and transport. The war that began in April 2023 caused extensive destruction across the capital region and displaced millions of residents. The Sudanese government returned to work from Khartoum in January 2026, but the city continues to face damaged infrastructure, limited public services, and a lengthy rebuilding process.

📜 Timeline of Khartoum

1821: Khartoum was established as an administrative and military center under Ottoman-Egyptian rule.

1885: Mahdist forces captured Khartoum, ending Ottoman-Egyptian control of the city.

1898: Anglo-Egyptian forces defeated the Mahdist army at the Battle of Omdurman and subsequently reoccupied Khartoum.

1956: Khartoum became the capital of independent Sudan.

2023: Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces spread across Khartoum, causing widespread displacement and severe damage to homes, public buildings, universities, hospitals, businesses, and infrastructure.

2025: The Sudanese army regained control of Khartoum after prolonged fighting, allowing government institutions and residents to begin returning gradually.

January 2026: Sudan’s government officially returned from its wartime base in Port Sudan and resumed operations from Khartoum.

July 2026: More than 2 million of roughly 5 million people displaced from the capital area had returned. Recovery remained incomplete, with electricity operating at limited capacity and many buildings and public services still requiring repair.

📊 Quick Stats

Founded

Circa 1821

Language

Arabic and English

Currency

Sudanese Pound (SDG)

Geography

At the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile

Time Zone

CAT (Central Africa Time)

UTC+2; Sudan does not observe daylight saving time.

Calling Code

+249

Driving Side

Right-hand traffic

🏛️ Iconic Landmarks

National Museum of Sudan

A major museum of Sudanese archaeology, known for collections connected with ancient Nubia and other periods of Sudan’s history. The museum and its collections were affected by the fighting that began in 2023.

Republican Palace

A historic government complex beside the Blue Nile that has long been associated with Sudan’s national administration. Parts of the palace area were damaged during the war.

Khartoum War Cemetery

A Commonwealth war cemetery containing graves and memorials connected with military personnel from the World Wars and related campaigns in the region.

Did you know? Khartoum developed beside one of Africa’s best-known river junctions. The Blue Nile arrives from Ethiopia and the White Nile from the south; their waters meet at Khartoum and continue northward as the Nile.

2026 status: The national government resumed work from Khartoum in January 2026 after operating from Port Sudan during much of the war. Large numbers of displaced residents have also returned, but recovery remains uneven. Electricity supply, water and other public services, damaged buildings, schools, universities, hospitals, and commercial areas continue to require restoration.

Khartoum remains Sudan’s national capital and seat of government. Its administrative role has resumed, while reconstruction of the capital region continues after extensive wartime damage and displacement.