• Drone strikes near Khartoum airport on October 21 raised security concerns ahead of the planned resumption of domestic flights on October 22.

• The airport’s reopening marks the first civilian operations since April 2023, following more than two years of closure due to the conflict between the army and the RSF.

• The move signals a tentative return to stability in Sudan’s capital and a key step toward reviving economic activity.

Drone strikes hit an area near Khartoum International Airport on the morning of October 21, casting doubt over Sudan’s plans to resume domestic air traffic after a two-and-a-half-year suspension.

The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that flights would resume on Wednesday, October 22, under approved operational procedures, marking a significant step toward restoring mobility and essential supply routes in the war-torn nation.

In a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on October 20, the Civil Aviation Authority said operations would restart in line with approved technical and logistical protocols following rehabilitation of key airport infrastructure.

Observers view the decision as a sign of gradual stabilization in Khartoum, which has endured heavy fighting since April 2023, when the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) forced the airport’s closure.

According to the agency’s statement, the government will first reopen domestic routes before considering the resumption of international flights.

The planned reopening comes months after the Sudanese army claimed in March 2025 to have regained full control of Khartoum airport and key strategic sites in the province previously occupied by the RSF.

Analysts say the restart of civilian aviation could boost the movement of goods and people and serve as an early signal of economic recovery in a country paralyzed by war.

However, the latest drone attacks underscore ongoing security risks that could undermine fragile progress.

The United Nations estimates that the conflict has displaced more than 13 million people, making Sudan one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum