By Matik Kueth
Khartoum’s long-silent skies roared back to life on Wednesday as a Badr Airlines aircraft touched down at Khartoum International Airport, signaling the long-awaited revival of civil aviation after more than two years of suspension due to Sudan’s war.
The symbolic landing marked the official reopening of the country’s main gateway, which had been shuttered since fierce fighting erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In a statement, airport management confirmed the milestone, calling it “a declaration of the return of air traffic from the capital and a new phase in the recovery of Sudan’s aviation sector.”
The return of operations came despite attempts by the RSF to sabotage the event. The airport endured two days of drone strikes ahead of the reopening, apparently aimed at delaying or derailing the ceremony.
Khartoum International Airport, once one of East Africa’s busiest hubs, sustained heavy damage during the war as it lay at the epicenter of fighting.
For months, RSF forces maintained control over the site until the army regained full authority across the state earlier this year.
Following the military’s takeover, the government launched extensive repairs and rehabilitation efforts as part of a broader plan to restore normalcy in the capital and encourage displaced citizens to return.
With the reopening, Sudan’s authorities say they are taking a crucial step toward reviving national connectivity and restoring a sense of stability in the war-battered capital