Sudan: 870 Sudanese nationals have departed from Egypt, heading back to Sudan, aboard 30 buses leaving Cairo, Alexandria, and Aswan as part of a voluntary return initiative organized by the Al-Amal Committee for Voluntary Return. The Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported the movement on Thursday, highlighting it as part of a broader effort to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of citizens to Sudan.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Al-Amal Committee, a community-led humanitarian initiative, collaborates with Sudanese state institutions to ensure a smooth transition for returnees. The group of returnees includes university professors and students who are enrolled in Sudanese universities. Maher al-Zein Ahmed, head of the committee's transport division, mentioned ongoing arrangements with businesspeople, institutions, government bodies, and humanitarian organizations to support these returning convoys. He emphasized that returning to Sudan allows families to reunite and alleviates economic burdens on those coming back.

Hassan Khalid, rapporteur for the return committee, stated that the committee has successfully organized the repatriation of approximately 50,000 Sudanese nationals from Egypt to Sudan. He noted a steady increase in the number of individuals registering to return. The committee is working closely with Egyptian authorities to facilitate the convoys and complete the necessary return procedures. Last week, the committee announced the departure of 22 buses carrying 1,100 Sudanese from Egypt, and earlier this month, 350 Sudanese nationals returned from Alexandria on seven buses under the same program. In July, over 6,000 Sudanese returned from Egypt on six separate convoys.

Since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in 2023, official estimates indicate that more than 1.2 million Sudanese have fled to Egypt. Before the conflict, about 5 million Sudanese nationals were already residing in Egypt, making it a primary destination for those escaping the violence. By the end of last year, approximately 428,676 people had voluntarily returned to Sudan, according to figures previously announced by Sudanese authorities. The ongoing war has resulted in one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, claiming tens of thousands of lives and displacing an estimated 13 million individuals.