Sudan Completes Development of Khartoum Airport

A general view of Khartoum International Airport after the Sudanese army deepened its control over the capital Khartoum, from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in Khartoum, Sudan March 27, 2025. REUTERS/El Tayeb Siddig

January 3, 2026
libyawire
Economy
0

The committee for the rehabilitation of Khartoum International Airport announced the completion of the airport’s development, referring to an “infrastructure boom” and the creation of a “completely new airport” with arrival and departure halls that meet the highest international standards, according to Sudanese media.

The director of Sudan Airports Company confirmed that the airport is now “immediately ready” to receive returning citizens, noting that the rehabilitation works met all global airport standards despite the high costs in the aviation sector.

Media reports say this announcement is part of efforts to return Sudan to normal life in the capital, as the relevant authorities aim to ensure the safe and smooth flow of returnees displaced by the war.

Sudan seeks to affirm the army’s control over this most important sovereign facility in the capital and secure it from any potential threats, especially with ongoing confrontations with the Rapid Support Forces in other areas of Sudan, to ensure the stability of air navigation.

Regaining Control

In March of last year, the Sudanese army took control of Khartoum International Airport and other strategic sites in the city, confirming it had managed to defeat the Rapid Support Forces.

An analysis of satellite images prepared in April of last year revealed the extensive scale of destruction to the infrastructure, facilities, and aircraft at Khartoum International Airport, two years after the outbreak of war.

The investigation revealed the destruction and burning of dozens of aircraft of various types, in addition to severe damage to infrastructure, logistical facilities, buildings, and structures, as well as damage around the runway.

The Sudanese Minister of Transport at the time described the losses at Khartoum Airport as “colossal,” noting in an interview that the damage included the airport’s infrastructure, aircraft belonging to several airlines, and fuel depots.

Khartoum International Airport is the largest and most active in Sudan. It was established in 1947 and was one of the first areas where clashes erupted on April 15, 2023.

Khartoum International Airport

Khartoum International Airport is Sudan’s main international airport, located in the capital city of Khartoum. It was originally established during the Second World War and has since been a central hub for the country’s civil and military aviation.

Khartoum

Khartoum is the capital and second-largest city of Sudan, located at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile rivers. Founded in 1821 as an Egyptian military outpost, it later became the seat of the Ottoman-Egyptian rule and was notably the site of the siege and death of General Charles Gordon in 1885 during the Mahdist War.

Sudan

Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa with a rich history as the home of ancient Nubian civilizations, such as the Kingdom of Kush, which once ruled Egypt. In the modern era, it was under Anglo-Egyptian colonial rule before gaining independence in 1956, and it is also known for archaeological sites like the Meroë pyramids.

Sudan Airports Company

The Sudan Airports Company is a state-owned entity responsible for managing and operating the majority of Sudan’s civilian airports, including Khartoum International Airport. It was established to develop the country’s aviation infrastructure and oversee airport services, playing a critical role in national and regional connectivity throughout its operational history.

Rapid Support Forces

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are a paramilitary organization in Sudan, originally formed from the Janjaweed militias active in the Darfur conflict in the early 2000s. It was formally established as a government entity in 2013 and has since become a major military and political power, playing a central role in the ongoing Sudanese civil war that began in 2023 against the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Sudanese army

The Sudanese army is the official military force of Sudan, established in 1925 during the Anglo-Egyptian colonial period. It has played a central and often decisive role in the country’s post-independence political history, having seized power in multiple coups since 1958.