Khartoum Airport Reopens After Two Years of War-Torn Silence
In a long-awaited moment of celebration, Sudan Airways' first scheduled commercial flight since the start of the country's civil war touched down at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday. The flight, which carried dozens of passengers from Port Sudan to the capital city, marked the airport's reopening after more than two years of being closed due to ongoing conflict.
The Sudanese government has been working to assert its control over the capital city, which was previously controlled by a rival military group, following years of fighting between top generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo. The war began in April 2023 and has since ravaged towns and cities across Sudan, killing tens of thousands of people and forcing millions to flee their homes.
According to officials, the airport is now ready to welcome up to four flights daily, with ticket prices starting at $50. This reopening is seen as a significant step towards reconnecting Khartoum to other regions in Sudan. The airport's reopening also comes after the military announced regaining full control of the capital from its rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, in March last year.
The celebrations at the airport were palpable, with officials describing scenes of jubilation following the arrival of the plane. However, the war-torn country still faces a humanitarian crisis, particularly in Darfur, where mass displacement and violence continue to plague the region.
As one UNICEF spokesperson put it, "Reaching a single child can take days of negotiation, security clearances, and travel across sand roads under shifting frontlines." The situation in Sudan remains fragile, but the reopening of the airport offers a glimmer of hope for reconnecting with the rest of the world.
In a long-awaited moment of celebration, Sudan Airways' first scheduled commercial flight since the start of the country's civil war touched down at Khartoum International Airport on Sunday. The flight, which carried dozens of passengers from Port Sudan to the capital city, marked the airport's reopening after more than two years of being closed due to ongoing conflict.
The Sudanese government has been working to assert its control over the capital city, which was previously controlled by a rival military group, following years of fighting between top generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo. The war began in April 2023 and has since ravaged towns and cities across Sudan, killing tens of thousands of people and forcing millions to flee their homes.
According to officials, the airport is now ready to welcome up to four flights daily, with ticket prices starting at $50. This reopening is seen as a significant step towards reconnecting Khartoum to other regions in Sudan. The airport's reopening also comes after the military announced regaining full control of the capital from its rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, in March last year.
The celebrations at the airport were palpable, with officials describing scenes of jubilation following the arrival of the plane. However, the war-torn country still faces a humanitarian crisis, particularly in Darfur, where mass displacement and violence continue to plague the region.
As one UNICEF spokesperson put it, "Reaching a single child can take days of negotiation, security clearances, and travel across sand roads under shifting frontlines." The situation in Sudan remains fragile, but the reopening of the airport offers a glimmer of hope for reconnecting with the rest of the world.