The Sudanese Government has urged airlines to resume flights in the country after EgyptAir became the first commercial flight to make a trip since the conflict broke out in April.
This was disclosed by the Red Sea State Governor, Fathallah Haj Ahmed, after the state-owned flag carrier of Egypt completed the trip.
EgyptAir has become the first and only commercial airline to enter or exit the conflict-torn region after it flew more than 100 passengers to Port Sudan, a city in the east of Sudan on Tuesday morning.
The jet had transported them from Cairo, the capital of Egypt, to the country, then later made its way back to Cairo that same day.
The EgyptAir Passengers disembarked from the Boeing 737 aircraft and were greeted on arrival by Egypt’s Consul General in Port Sudan, Sameh Farouk, who said the “flight will make it easier for our Sudanese brothers to travel to Egypt.”
According to Ahmed, the trip by EgyptAir was proof that the North African state was stable and safe for international flights.
Ahmed said, “This is a message to the whole world that Sudan is safe and stable. It also sends a message to international airlines to resume their flights to Sudan as it is 100% safe.”
The Sudanese government had closed its airspace after a power battle between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) group turned violent in April.
The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority declared on August 15 that the country’s eastern airspace had been reopened.
According to Egypt’s general consul to Sudan, Sameh Farouq, EgyptAir will run a weekly round-trip flight between Egypt and Sudan.
This development came after Sudan’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made his way to Egypt last Tuesday for a crucial meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Burhan made the trip after his firm refusal to engage in negotiations with the leader of the rival paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to the UN, the conflict in Sudan has claimed the lives of at least 4,000 people, with on-ground activists and medical professionals asserting that the actual death toll is likely far higher.
The United Nations (UN) disclosed on Monday that more than 1.8 million people will have been displaced from their homes by year-end due to the conflict.