In a bold humanitarian gesture, the Egyptian government has launched a free train service to assist Sudanese refugees returning to their homeland after more than a year of brutal conflict. The repatriation program is one of the first large-scale efforts to facilitate voluntary returns since the Sudan war began in April 2023.
The first train departed Cairo’s Ramses Station on July 21, filled with hundreds of Sudanese refugees, many of whom had been living in Egypt since fleeing the early days of the fighting. The journey spans over 1,200 kilometers south to Aswan, where passengers transfer to ferries and buses heading into northern Sudan particularly Wadi Halfa, Dongola, and eventually Khartoum.
“I’m happy because I am finally going back to my family and my children,”
said Awatef al Hassan, her eyes welling up with emotion as she boarded the train.
This comes at a time when the situation in Sudan remains fragile but is showing tentative signs of stability. In May 2025, the Sudanese Armed Forces regained control of Khartoum, the capital, which had been at the heart of the fighting for over a year. While electricity and many public services are still unavailable, some displaced people see the return as a necessary step to reclaim their lives.
The war has been devastating. Over 15 million people have been displaced, and more than 40,000 lives have been lost, according to aid agencies. Egypt has hosted the largest number of Sudanese refugees estimated at 1.5 million making this return initiative both a relief measure and a strategic necessity