Over 529,000 refugees return to Sudan in two years, UN says

More than 529,000 refugees have returned to Sudan from neighbouring countries over the past two years, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a report released on Sunday, the agency said it had registered 529,661 people who crossed back into Sudan between January 2024 and December 2025.

Sudan has been gripped by conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the integration of the paramilitary group into the armed forces. The war has triggered what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands reported killed and around 13 million people displaced.

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Approximately 4.5 million people fled to neighbouring countries during the conflict and are considered refugees, according to recent UN figures. Sudan’s total population is estimated at around 48 million.

The IOM said around 89 per cent of returnees came back from Egypt, while fewer than 11 per cent returned from Chad. Smaller numbers crossed back from other countries, including Ethiopia.

As for the reasons behind their return, the report said nearly 41 per cent cited an improved security situation. Other reasons included seeking employment or livelihoods (26 per cent), family visits (19 per cent) and legal matters (9 per cent), with the remainder attributed to various other factors.

The agency added that 67 per cent of those who returned indicated that they intend to go back to their original areas of residence within Sudan.

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