Egypt’s National Railways (ENR) has operated its 43rd special train to support the voluntary return of Sudanese nationals displaced by the conflict in Sudan. The service departed Cairo, on December 29, carrying 1,028 passengers, largely families, bound for Aswan, a principal transit hub for cross-border returns. The train was scheduled to arrive in Aswan at 11:40 local time on Monday and return to Cairo on this Tuesday.
Since the program’s inception, 41,828 Sudanese citizens have been transported via the rail corridor, according to ENR figures. The initiative responds to displacement caused by the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which erupted in April 2023. Egypt has received more than 1.5 million Sudanese nationals since the conflict began, marking the largest refugee influx in its history. As of 30 November 2025, the UNHCR reported approximately 822,000 registered Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, making them the country’s largest refugee group. In June 2025, the total number of registered refugees in Egypt surpassed one million, with Sudanese nationals accounting for nearly three-quarters.
Authorities say the repatriation services are intended to support those opting to return, even as Egypt continues to shoulder significant pressure on infrastructure and public services, particularly in southern governorates such as Aswan. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated calls for greater international burden-sharing on Sunday, noting that Egypt hosts more than 10 million foreign nationals and receives no financial benefit for refugee hosting, despite ongoing humanitarian commitments.
