Sudan Resumes Domestic Flights at Khartoum Airport Amid Ongoing Conflict

A domestic flight landed at Khartoum International Airport for the first time since Sudan’s war began, hinting at a return of air travel. The airport, controlled by the military, faces ongoing RSF drone threats. The conflict has killed 40,000, displaced 12 million, and left 24 million at risk of food insecurity.

A domestic passenger flight successfully landed at Khartoum International Airport in Sudan’s capital on Wednesday, marking the first such arrival since the outbreak of war over two years ago. This event may signal the beginning of a gradual resumption of air traffic in the conflict-hit country.

Sudan’s Ministry of Media and Culture confirmed that the Badr Airlines flight from Port Sudan had arrived safely. While the airport has seen limited use this year, including at least two visits by Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, this is the first civilian passenger flight to land since fighting disrupted operations.

Control of the airport shifted in March when the army seized it from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The conflict, which erupted when the military and RSF clashed over control of the country, has left the military in command of the capital, while the RSF maintains control over parts of western Darfur and several other regions.

The war has had a devastating human toll. According to the World Health Organization, at least 40,000 people have died, and as many as 12 million have been displaced. The United Nations reports that over 24 million people in Sudan are now facing acute food insecurity.

Despite the resumption of flights, the situation remains tense. The RSF launched drone attacks targeting the airport at dawn on Tuesday, which the military says were successfully intercepted. Later that night, RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa, known as Hemedti, issued a video warning that his forces would continue to target the airport. He stated that any aircraft taking off from neighboring countries or carrying supplies or military operations would be considered legitimate targets.

In preparation for the airport’s reopening, Gen. Burhan toured the facility on Tuesday and delivered a speech pledging to protect Sudanese citizens from attacks by the RSF. The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority confirmed earlier this week that domestic flights would resume on Wednesday after completing necessary operational and technical procedures, according to the Sudan News Agency.

At present, it remains unclear how many airlines will operate at Khartoum International Airport, and Sudanese officials have not provided further details. The resumption of domestic flights, however limited, represents a cautious step toward restoring normalcy in a country that has endured years of violent conflict and instability.