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Egypt announces direct flight to Port Sudan as Burhan concludes Cairo tour

EgyptAir will operate its first direct flight from Cairo to Port Sudan on September 1 after Khartoum authorities reopened airspace in eastern sector of the North African country.

AFP

After Egypt, speculation has mounted that Burhan will next travel to Saudi Arabia, which has positioned itself as a mediator also "in opposition to the UAE's plan" to back the RSF. / Photo: AFP

Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir has announced it will operate its first direct flight from Cairo to Port Sudan starting September 1, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry said.

The decision comes late on Tuesday after Sudanese authorities reopened the airspace in the eastern sector of the country, after closing the entire airspace since April 15 after war broke out.

Since then, humanitarian and evacuation flights have operated out of Port Sudan airport on the Red Sea coast.

Meanwhile, Sudan's army chief, Abdel Fattah al Burhan, returned home after visiting Egypt on his first trip abroad since the outbreak of war in April, with the latest violence killing dozens of civilians in battle-scarred Darfur.

While there, he said his forces faced "rebel groups who have committed war crimes in their attempt to seize power".

Speaking to Egyptian media, Burhan said Sudan's military is "committed to ending the war" and "does not seek to continue ruling" the country.

"We seek free, fair elections where the Sudanese people can decide what they want."

In their meeting, President Abdel Fattah el Sisi's office said he had "reaffirmed Egypt's firm position in standing by Sudan and supporting its security, stability and territorial integrity".

Deadly violence grips Darfur as Sudan's Burhan visits Egypt

Violence in Darfur

According to medics and witnesses, fighting between the army and paramilitary forces, Rapid Support Forces [RSF], killed at least 39 civilians in Nyala, the South Darfur state capital.

"Five entire families were killed in a single day," said Gouja Ahmed, a rights activist originally from the city.

Since August 11, more than 50,000 people have fled Nyala due to the violence, the United Nations says.

After Egypt, speculation has mounted that Burhan will next travel to Saudi Arabia, which has positioned itself as a mediator also "in opposition to the UAE's plan" to back the RSF, said Magdi el Gizouli, a researcher with the Rift Valley Institute.

The United Nations says more than 4.6 million people have been uprooted by the fighting, fleeing inside Sudan as well as to neighbouring countries.