Attachments
Key messages
- The war in Sudan is reshaping Khartoum’s urban landscape through both direct and indirect violence. This includes not only the systematic destruction of the built environment but also looting, the forceful seizure of property and restrictions on mobility, forms of urbicide that fragment the city and undermine urban life.
- Across Khartoum, both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have targeted civilian infrastructure and markets, causing heavy casualties and damage.
- Urbicide by both SAF and the RSF extends beyond physical destruction to include the denial of services, occupation of property and restrictions on mobility. The RSF has employed a strategy of spatial control, imposing roadblocks and checkpoints, that isolate entire neighbourhoods.
- The war is producing divergent outcomes. The urbicidal tactics have driven displacement in some areas while accelerating conflictinduced urbanisation in others. Elite areas like Al-Amarat have been emptied and militarised, while working-class area Mayo has absorbed new populations. Military strategies are profoundly reshaping patterns of settlement, mobility and access to services.