Khartoum airport reopens after two years

KHARTOUM, Sudan (MNTV) — Khartoum International Airport reopened this week after more than two years of closure, marking a rare moment of progress in Sudan’s ongoing conflict and a potential lifeline for humanitarian operations and domestic travel.

The first commercial flight, operated by Badr Airlines from Port Sudan, landed on Tuesday, signaling the gradual restoration of civil aviation in the war-torn capital. The reopening comes as part of government efforts to reestablish basic infrastructure disrupted by the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Authorities said the airport will initially handle domestic flights, with plans to expand to international routes once security and technical conditions allow. The facility sustained significant damage during the conflict, which erupted in April 2023 and has since displaced millions and crippled Sudan’s economy.

Humanitarian agencies have welcomed the move, calling it a critical step for the delivery of aid supplies that had been rerouted through distant or unsafe corridors. The reopening is also expected to ease transport bottlenecks and support trade links with neighboring countries.

However, security concerns remain high. Reports of drone attacks near Khartoum earlier this month underscored the fragile ceasefires and persistent instability in and around the capital.

Regional observers say the resumption of flights could boost confidence in Sudan’s recovery efforts but caution that true normalization will depend on a sustained end to hostilities and the protection of civilian infrastructure.