Sudan Forms Committee to Restore Khartoum Industrial Zones After War Damage

Sudan’s Ministry of Industry and Trade announced on Thursday the creation of a high‑level committee tasked with rehabilitating industrial zones in Khartoum State that have been severely damaged during the ongoing civil war, and with helping shuttered factories resume production. The committee, chaired by the minister himself, will convene representatives from state‑owned enterprises, private investors, and international development agencies to devise a coordinated recovery plan.

The civil conflict that escalated in 2023 has left much of the capital’s industrial belt in ruins. Factories that once supplied raw materials for the national economy, including textiles, food processing and small‑scale manufacturing, have been abandoned or destroyed by shelling and looting. The disruption has cost the government an estimated $1.2 billion in lost output and exacerbated the country’s already fragile fiscal position. By restoring these zones, officials hope to create jobs, reduce import dependence, and stabilise the local supply chain for essential goods.

Khartoum’s industrial area has historically been the economic engine of Sudan. In the mid‑20th century, the region attracted foreign investment, particularly from Gulf Arab states, and became a hub for petrochemical production and light manufacturing. The 1970s and 1980s saw a boom in industrial output, but the civil war in 2011, followed by the recent uprising, halted many of those projects. The government’s new committee therefore represents a return to a long‑standing strategy of using the capital’s industrial capacity as a lever for national development, a strategy that has been central to Sudan’s economic policy since the post‑colonial era.

Stakeholders have expressed cautious optimism. “Rebuilding the industrial zones will not only revive production but also signal to investors that Sudan is committed to long‑term stability,” said a senior official from the Sudanese Chamber of Commerce. However, concerns remain over the security environment, access to capital, and the need for technical assistance to upgrade outdated machinery. International partners, including the World Bank and the African Development Bank, have pledged to provide financial and advisory support, contingent on the establishment of transparent governance mechanisms for the rehabilitation projects.

The move carries implications beyond Sudan’s borders. Khartoum’s industrial output feeds a supply chain that extends into neighboring Ethiopia, Eritrea, and South Sudan, and the region relies on Sudan for essential commodities such as sugar, flour and textiles. A revitalised industrial sector could reduce import bills for these countries, stabilise regional markets and curb the economic spill‑over effects of the Sudanese conflict. Moreover, a stronger industrial base in Khartoum could attract foreign direct investment into the broader Sahel‑Nile corridor, thereby enhancing economic resilience in a region frequently hit by political instability.

In sum, the high‑level committee’s mandate is a strategic attempt to reverse the economic damage inflicted by years of war, to restore jobs and production, and to re‑integrate Sudan into regional trade networks. Its success will depend on sustained security, adequate financing, and effective collaboration between state actors and the private sector. If achieved, the rehabilitation of Khartoum’s industrial zones could serve as a model for post‑conflict economic recovery across Northeast Africa.