The Truth Perspective | Ibrahim Shglawi
The New Airport Puts Us on the Right Track
Airports are a cornerstone of modern national infrastructure. They are not merely transit points for travelers but reflect a nation’s sovereignty and level of development. Moreover, they serve as economic hubs and direct drivers of national growth. In Sudan, under extraordinary circumstances, the issue of airports must be addressed with attention—particularly in light of the war’s devastating impact on infrastructure.
Today, the state of Sudanese airports reveals a core facet of the broader national crisis. These facilities suffer from severe deterioration in services, equipment, and management—stripping them of any regional competitiveness, and at times even basic functionality. On the other hand, several regional peers that have faced similar crises have managed to transform their aviation and airport sectors into effective economic and investment engines—examples include Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Uganda.
This article, based on a firsthand field experience, seeks to briefly shed light on the condition of Sudan’s airports amidst the war. The aim is to initiate a broader conversation about integrating this sector into national reconstruction plans, recognizing its strategic role in restoring stability, revitalizing the economy, and reinforcing peace and security.
Last week, upon the invitation of the 3rd Regional Forum for Innovative Stakeholders in the Eastern Nile Basin (ENTRO), I joined a delegation from the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, which included a group of experts and media professionals. Our journey began at Port Sudan Airport, which still bears the scars of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces and their local and regional backers. Months after these assaults, the airport remains in dismal condition—no running water, no food services, and dysfunctional air conditioning amid stifling heat, making the departure lounge a place of suffering rather than a point of departure.
In contrast, our experiences at Addis Ababa and Nairobi airports were entirely different: modern facilities, professional operating systems, comprehensive traveler services, and infrastructure designed according to the latest international standards. These scenes not only inspire admiration but also provoke painful questions: Why has Khartoum, with all its history and resources, failed to build an airport worthy of Sudan’s stature? And why does the new Khartoum International Airport project remain merely a proposal on paper?
Within this context, Prime Minister Dr. Kamal Idris recently met with Sudan Airports Company Director Engineer Sar Al-Khatim Babiker to review airport needs and rehabilitation plans. While optimistic statements about an upcoming “renaissance” were issued, the company’s actual track record raises serious concerns. It has failed to address even basic shortcomings in existing facilities—such as poor hygiene, dilapidated luggage carts, and nonfunctional air conditioning systems.
Notably, countries like Rwanda, which emerged from genocide in the 1990s, have managed to build Bugesera International Airport to global standards through productive investment partnerships. Likewise, Ethiopia, despite internal conflicts, has developed Bole International Airport into a regional transit hub, while Uganda has successfully modernized Entebbe Airport into a significant aviation gateway in East Africa.
These examples prove that rising from the rubble of war is not an unattainable dream, but rather the direct result of clear political will, strategic planning, and transparent, efficient execution. Sudan, with its human capital and technical expertise, is no exception—provided that visionary leadership and sound planning are in place.
A cohesive economic future cannot be envisioned without modern air gateways. Airports are not just national facades—they are essential tools for stimulating growth, attracting investment, and facilitating trade. What we need today is not mere maintenance of crumbling infrastructure but the launch of a comprehensive national project to construct world-class airports—beginning with the new Khartoum airport—using innovative financing models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and BOOT schemes, without solely relying on the state budget.
From this #Truth_Perspective, in post-war Sudan, we can no longer afford delay or complacency. National reconstruction must begin at the country’s first gate: the airport. The real challenge lies in those who possess the political and administrative courage to initiate this beginning.
Wishing you wellness and peace,
Sunday, 22 June 2025
📧 Shglawi55@gmail.com
