Sudan's war-battered capital witnesses tentative recovery following government takeover

Khartoum: Khartoum bears the scars of almost three years of war. Streets that once thrived with life now stand quiet, buildings pocked by shellfire, a...

Khartoum: Khartoum bears the scars of almost three years of war. Streets that once thrived with life now stand quiet, buildings pocked by shellfire, and government offices largely abandoned. Yet amid the ruins, a tentative return is beginning as residents slowly reclaim the capital.

Along University Street, once the city's administrative backbone, red-brick government buildings stand battered, their facades pitted by years of neglect and conflict.

"Government institutions aren't operating, and there's no stable electricity," said Mohamed Fadlalla, a government employee in his late 50s, walking through his damaged workplace for the first time in nearly three years. "Most institutions are damaged or burned, and reconstruction will require tremendous effort and time."

Just blocks away, the once-vibrant Nile Street along the riverbank remains quiet, its cafes and restaurants still shuttered.

"There's no life here… still no electricity or water," said Ahmed Al-Sir, who worked in a cafe for more than 20 years.