For the first time since Sudan’s brutal civil war erupted more than two years ago, a domestic passenger plane landed at Khartoum International Airport on Wednesday, signaling a cautious step toward restoring air traffic in the conflict-torn capital. The country’s media and culture ministry confirmed that a Badr Airlines flight arrived from Port Sudan, marking the airport’s first civilian arrival since it fell silent amid fierce fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Sudanese military recaptured the airport in March after months of clashes with the RSF, which continues to hold swathes of the Darfur region and other territories. Despite this milestone, the conflict remains deadly — with the World Health Organization estimating at least 40,000 killed and the United Nations warning that 24 million people face acute food insecurity. On Tuesday, the RSF launched a drone attack on the airport, but the army claimed to have intercepted the assault. RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemedti, later vowed to keep targeting any aircraft linked to the military or its allies.
Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan visited the airport ahead of the reopening, promising citizens renewed stability and protection. The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority announced that domestic flights could now resume following safety and technical reviews, though it remains uncertain how many airlines will operate in the capital. The move offers a glimmer of hope amid one of Africa’s most devastating wars, even as threats from the RSF continue to loom over Khartoum’s fragile skies.
