KHARTOUM, Sudan — The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group has launched drone attacks on Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, for the fourth consecutive day, targeting the city and its main airport. The assault comes as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), aligned with the government, attempt to resume air traffic following their recapture of the capital in March 2025.

Residents near Khartoum International Airport reported hearing drones and surface-to-air missile fire early Friday, followed by loud explosions. The full extent of damage to the airport remains unclear. The attacks have forced authorities to postpone the airport’s reopening, initially scheduled after more than two years of conflict. A single plane from local Badr Airlines had landed on Wednesday, but officials confirmed operations remain suspended “until further notice” due to ongoing threats.

Human Cost and Civilian Impact

The continued drone strikes come amid a broader civil war that began in April 2023, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, displaced approximately 12 million people, and left 30 million in urgent need of humanitarian aid—the largest ongoing humanitarian crisis globally.

Many residents who returned to the capital after the SAF regained control have found their homes destroyed. Alfatih Bashir from Omdurman described the collapse of his house, which he built with personal savings while working abroad. “I’m not working, I’m just sitting idly with my wife and two children. We sometimes barely have enough to eat. How can I even start to rebuild?” he said.

Afaf Khamed, another resident, described the emotional toll: “This house is where we were born, where all our family members got married. I now live here with my sister, and we can’t rebuild because we don’t have anyone to help us.”

Economic Challenges Hampering Reconstruction

The war has severely disrupted Sudan’s economy, with the local currency, the Sudanese pound, collapsing from 600 per U.S. dollar in April 2023 to 3,500 pounds, making rebuilding nearly impossible. While salaries have remained stable, the cost and scarcity of building materials, due to security checks and disrupted supply chains, have left residents struggling to repair homes and businesses. Shop owner Mohammed Ali noted, “Fewer and fewer people are coming to buy building materials because they take too long to arrive and are now very expensive.”

Government Response and Rebuilding Efforts

Sudan’s government has pledged to rebuild the capital, prioritizing state institutions. However, many civilians have been left to manage reconstruction independently, facing both economic hardship and ongoing security threats from the RSF.

The drone strikes on Khartoum International Airport highlight the persistent instability in the city, undermining efforts to restore normalcy and threatening the fragile humanitarian situation.