Esther Imonmion
A passenger flight landed at Khartoum International Airport on Wednesday for the first time since Sudan’s civil war erupted more than two years ago, signaling a possible step toward the gradual reopening of air traffic.
The Ministry of Media and Culture confirmed that a Badr Airlines flight from Port Sudan arrived safely in the capital. The airport, which had been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was captured by the army in March. It has since hosted limited military flights, including those carrying Sudanese army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan earlier this year.
The conflict began when the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF turned against each other in a violent power struggle. While the army now controls Khartoum, the RSF still holds parts of the western Darfur region and other areas across the country.
The World Health Organization estimates that at least 40,000 people have been killed since the fighting began, while the United Nations says as many as 12 million have been displaced. More than 24 million Sudanese are now facing acute food insecurity.
On Tuesday morning, the RSF reportedly launched drone attacks targeting Khartoum airport, but the army said its defenses intercepted the drones. Later that night, RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, released a video threatening further strikes on the airport.
“Any airplane that takes off from any neighbouring country, any airplane that is dropping supplies, bombing or killing, any drone that takes off from any airport, will be a legitimate target for us,” Hemedti warned.
Gen. Burhan visited the airport on Tuesday ahead of the reopening and vowed to protect citizens from RSF aggression.
The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority announced earlier this week that domestic flights would resume on Wednesday after completing necessary operational and technical checks, according to the Sudan News Agency.
It remains unclear how many airlines plan to resume operations through Khartoum airport. Sudanese officials were not immediately available for comment.