Sudan’s Burri Neighborhood: From Siege to Recovery, a Look at Life Under Conflict

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) concluded a two-year siege of Burri, a central Khartoum neighborhood, in March 2025, marking a significant turning point in the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The siege, which began in April 2023, profoundly impacted the lives of Burri’s residents, forcing them to adapt and rely on community-based support systems. Recent research, including a detailed study by Niema Alhessen and discussions on the MERIP Podcast, sheds light on the experiences of those who lived through the crisis and the historical factors that contributed to it.

The Strategic Importance of Burri

Burri’s location in central Khartoum makes it strategically important, as it houses key political and military institutions [1]. This made it a focal point in the conflict between the SAF and the RSF. From the onset of the war in April 2023, the neighborhood was under siege by the RSF, disrupting daily life and creating a humanitarian crisis.

Life Under Siege: Resilience and Mutual Aid

During the siege, residents of Burri demonstrated remarkable resilience, establishing makeshift institutions and mutual aid networks to survive [2]. They actively sought aid from both the SAF and the RSF, navigating a complex and dangerous landscape to secure essential resources. Niema Alhessen’s research, detailed in her book “Burri Under Siege—How War Remade Everyday Life in a Sudanese Neighborhood,” highlights how inhabitants maintained essential services and negotiated for aid with both warring factions [2], [1].

Historical Roots of Khartoum’s Militarization

Alhessen’s function extends beyond the immediate crisis, examining the historical roots of Khartoum’s militarization. She argues that the current conflict is linked to the colonial history of Sudan under the Anglo-Egyptian condominium in the late nineteenth century, a period that laid the groundwork for the militarization of urban spaces [2]. This historical context suggests the conflict is not a recent development but a continuation of long-standing patterns.

The End of the Siege and Future Outlook

The SAF regained control of Burri in March 2025, bringing an end to the two-year siege [1], [2]. While the end of the siege marks a significant step, the road to recovery will be long and challenging. Understanding the experiences of Burri’s residents, as documented by researchers like Niema Alhessen, is crucial for informing future efforts to rebuild and address the underlying causes of conflict in Sudan.

Further Reading

• Niema Alhessen, “Burri Under Siege—How War Remade Everyday Life in a Sudanese Neighborhood” Middle East Report 317 (Winter 2025).
• Ali Al-Arash, “Bread, Books and Bombs: Burri’s Spirit of Resistance, Knowledge, and Solidarity,” ATAR Network 28 (May 19, 2025).
• Marina D’Errico, “The Urban Fabric Between Tradition and Modernity (1885–1956): Omdurman, Khartoum, and the British Master Plan of 1910” in Vezzadini, Seri-Hersch, Revilla, Poussier & Abdul Jalil (Eds.), Ordinary Sudan, 1504–2019: From Social History to Politics from Below (Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, 2023).
• Khartoum podcast by Studio Urban.
• Khalid Mustafa Medani, “The Struggle for Sudan” Middle East Report 310 (Spring 2024).