First Domestic Flight Lands in Khartoum Since War Began

Historic Landing After Two Years of War

For the first time since war erupted in 2023, a domestic flight successfully landed at Khartoum International Airport on Wednesday, symbolizing a cautious move toward restoring Sudan’s air connectivity.

The Badr Airlines flight, which departed from Port Sudan, was confirmed by Sudan’s Ministry of Media and Culture, marking the first civilian arrival in the capital since the airport’s reopening.

Previously, the airport had only been used for military flights, including visits by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the country’s de facto leader.

Army Regains Control, but Conflict Persists

The Sudanese army recaptured the airport in March from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF)  a critical victory in the long and bloody conflict between the two factions.

The war, which began when tensions between the army and the RSF spiraled into open fighting, has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced 12 million, according to the World Health Organization.

Despite the army holding Khartoum, the RSF continues to control vast areas in Darfur and other regions, keeping much of the country divided.

RSF Drone Threats Cast Doubt on Safety

Just a day before the flight, RSF forces launched a drone attack targeting the Khartoum airport. The military claimed its air defenses successfully intercepted the drones.

Later, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) issued a chilling video warning, vowing to target any aircraft linked to Sudan’s army or its allies.

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“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 declared.

His statement has raised concerns about the security of future flights and the viability of sustaining civilian air operations.

Ahead of the reopening, Gen. Burhan toured the airport and delivered a defiant speech promising to “protect Sudanese citizens from the RSF’s terror.”

The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority said the airport’s reopening followed the completion of “necessary operational and technical procedures.”

While domestic flights have officially resumed, the number of airlines willing to operate in Khartoum remains unclear, and officials have yet to release further details.

Hope Amid Destruction

The reopening of Khartoum International Airport carries symbolic weight  a rare glimmer of progress in a war that has plunged Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The UN reports that 24 million people across the country now face acute food insecurity, while millions more remain internally displaced or trapped by ongoing clashes.

Whether this flight marks the beginning of Sudan’s gradual recovery or merely a fragile reprieve remains uncertain.

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