Sudanese military forces have confirmed the recapture of the international airport in Khartoum amidst their ongoing efforts to regain full control of the capital from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The military’s chief, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, made his first return to the city since the conflict began nearly two years ago, signaling substantial progress in the army’s strategic operations.
A video released by the military depicted General Burhan arriving at Khartoum International Airport and expressing his satisfaction by kissing the ground and saluting his troops after exiting the helicopter. “Khartoum is now free. It’s over. Khartoum is free,” he was heard declaring to the assembled soldiers, as broadcast on Al Jazeera television. Subsequently, Burhan proceeded to the Presidential Palace, which soldiers had reclaimed from RSF control the previous Friday.
Despite these advances, the RSF is believed to maintain some scattered positions throughout Khartoum, and the government has stopped short of officially declaring complete victory. Nonetheless, General Burhan’s return represents a significant symbolic achievement amid a series of recent successes in the capital. After the outbreak of war in April 2023, Burhan and the military-led government had relocated to Port Sudan, a city along the Red Sea.
The conflict first erupted due to a power struggle between the military and the RSF, with intense battles in and around Khartoum initially placing the RSF in control of critical sites such as the airport and the Presidential Palace. Although taking control of the capital marks progress, the war is yet unresolved as the RSF still retains influence in the Darfur region and other areas across Sudan.
In addition to recapturing the airport, the military reported earlier that they had taken back the Teiba al-Hasnab camp, the RSF’s last major stronghold in Khartoum. The RSF has not immediately responded to this development.
Information Minister Khalid Aleiser, functioning as a spokesperson for the military-led government, commented on social media, describing these developments as a “pivotal and decisive moment in the history of Sudan” and announcing the capital as free.
Military dominance over the airport, together with stability in Khartoum, could enable aid organizations to deliver more vital supplies into a nation ravaged by conflict, which has displaced approximately 14 million people and led to famine in certain regions. Casualties are grave, with at least 28,000 confirmed dead, though the actual number is presumed to be higher.