Sudan’s Burhan lands plane at Khartoum airport for first time since war began

July 20, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, landed his presidential plane at Khartoum’s main airport on Saturday for the first time since the war began in April 2023, state media footage showed, in a move signalling growing government efforts to return to the capital.

Footage showed Burhan disembarking and later visiting the military’s General Command headquarters, where he was briefed by Chief of Staff General Mohamed Osman Al-Hussein on the security situation.

The landing was made possible by recent repairs to the airport’s main runway.

While Burhan visited the airport by helicopter in March, Saturday’s arrival in a fixed-wing plane demonstrates the army’s ability to secure the facility, even as its terminal buildings remain in ruins.

The army retook full control of Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) four months ago. The government has since launched efforts to restore basic services and repair the city’s infrastructure.