Khartoum: Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority announced plans to reopen Khartoum International Airport for domestic flights starting Wednesday, following a prolonged 30-month closure due to ongoing conflict in the country.

According to Anadolu Agency, the official news agency SUNA reported that the Civil Aviation Authority has issued a notice confirming the resumption of operations at the airport beginning Wednesday, October 22. The reopening is set to proceed in accordance with approved operational procedures and signals the airport's readiness to gradually receive flights after finalizing technical and operational preparations.

This reopening marks a significant development, as Khartoum International Airport has been non-operational for more than two and a half years amidst a conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The ongoing war, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and displaced 14 million people according to the UN and local authorities. However, research conducted by US universities suggests that the death toll could be as high as 130,000.

The conflict saw a critical turning point on March 27 when the Sudanese army announced it had cleared the final RSF strongholds in Khartoum province. The army regained control of the airport, as well as several security and military facilities and neighborhoods in the eastern and southern parts of the capital, marking a significant step in regaining stability in the region.