Nearly 1,000 Sudanese leave Egypt for home under voluntary return program

A total of 980 Sudanese nationals departed Cairo for Sudan on Monday aboard 20 buses as part of an organised voluntary return program, according to Sudan’s state news agency SUNA.

The “Hope for Voluntary Return” committee organized the departures from the Al-Matba’a area and Al-Aziziyah Square in Cairo’s Abdeen district.

Maher al-Zein, head of the committee responsible for transportation, said return operations would continue for Sudanese nationals in Egypt who wish to travel home.

He added that transportation for university faculty members and students is scheduled to begin on Thursday to allow them to participate in Sudan’s new academic year.

Monday’s departures were the latest in a series of organised returns from Egypt. The committee reported that 550 people returned on 30^th August, following 1,225 on 29^th August and 882 on 24^th August.

It also reported the return of 870 Sudanese nationals on 20^th August, 1,100 on 13^th August and 350 from Alexandria on 3^rd August. During July, 6,074 people returned to Sudan through six organised trips, according to the committee.

Egypt has been one of the principal destinations for Sudanese fleeing the conflict that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Official estimates cited in the report indicate that more than 1.2 million Sudanese entered Egypt following the outbreak of the war.

Sudanese officials have also reported a growing number of people returning home. Sudanese Ambassador Abdel-Qader Abdullah previously said approximately 428,676 people had voluntarily returned to Sudan by the end of 2025.

Egyptian authorities launched an initiative in October 2025 to facilitate returns, including dedicated train services carrying Sudanese nationals from Cairo to Aswan before their onward journey to Sudan.

The war in Sudan has caused a major humanitarian and displacement crisis, forcing millions of people from their homes both within the country and across its borders.