The Face of Truth: We All Returned… Except You

Ibrahim Shaglawi

The Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority issued on Thursday the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which provided for the reopening of Sudanese airspace to international air traffic to and from Khartoum Airport, in a step considered one of the most important political transformations during the current phase, as it practically means restoring the airspace to its natural function after a period of suspension imposed by the war and its challenges.

This important development was followed by confirmation from the Prime Minister regarding confidence in the readiness of Khartoum Airport and the resumption of its operations at full capacity, indicating the government’s interest in reconnecting the country with the outside world and restoring state institutions to operate within the capital after years of an existential war that exhausted resources. The national carrier, “Sudanair,” also announced the resumption of flights to Khartoum once again.

In parallel, reports by the International Organization for Migration indicated the return of more than 1.6 million people to Khartoum State by early 2026, as part of a broad return wave involving millions of displaced persons across the country. These figures are read as the beginning of a reshaping of the social fabric of the capital.

Likewise, Zadna International Investment Company announced its support for the voluntary return project through an initial contribution to bring back 3,000 Sudanese from abroad, as part of its national efforts toward stability and enabling returnees to come back to the country.

But what gives these indicators their real meaning is what we observed firsthand yesterday during a tour that lasted for hours with a number of friends between Number 2, Al-Amarat, Al-Taif, Al-Riyadh, and Kafouri. The scene appeared as though it was presenting a different reality. Quiet streets, limited movement, buildings still standing in full, and neighborhoods still breathing cautiously, as if they had not yet fully completed their decision to return to the homeland.

Some balconies remain closed, and some walls still carry air-conditioning units left behind by their owners as if they had departed only yesterday, while the traces of war remain present in the general appearance, as visible marks waiting for human beings to redefine the place.

In contrast, the scene in Omdurman appeared denser and more vibrant. From the old markets to the neighborhoods of Al-Thawra and Umm Badda, as well as wide parts of Bahri, daily movement seemed more energetic, markets more crowded, as if society there had decided to restore the rhythm of life as soon as the minimum level of safety was achieved. This disparity reflects a broader variation in levels of confidence in the recovery phase.

From here, the reopening of Khartoum Airport and the resumption of its operations becomes a psychological and political signal with deep influence on public awareness. For broad segments of Sudanese people, “the opening of the airport” has remained the final threshold for the capital’s return to its natural image, because it confirms that the city has regained its connection with the world.

More importantly, this moment reveals the nature of recovery in post-conflict states: it consists of overlapping levels. The first is led by the state through its governmental decisions, such as reopening the airspace and restarting the airport. The second is led by society through the gradual return to daily life. The third is defined by major signals that redefine the meaning of stability in the collective consciousness of Sudanese people.

Between these levels, the new Khartoum is taking shape—a city returning with confidence, yet certainly not identical to its former image, but rather reproducing itself slowly, cautiously, and in different forms.

Nevertheless, developmental political analysis remains incomplete unless it moves from description to responsibility. Positive indicators, despite their importance, remain incomplete unless they are transformed into tangible service policies. The return of citizens to Khartoum does not stop at the feeling of safety, but requires accelerating the restoration of water and electricity services throughout the capital, as the primary condition for any stability. This is an important issue for groups that had become accustomed to a higher level of services.

Likewise, reconstruction should not be understood as scattered restoration operations, but as a comprehensive transformation that rebuilds Khartoum according to a new vision that absorbs the lessons of war and reorganizes the relationship between people, place, and the state.

Therefore, it is important to issue a clear declaration for the return of state employees to their offices in Khartoum and all public facilities, because the regular functioning of the government apparatus is the backbone that determines the state’s ability to move from the emergency phase to the phase of stability.

According to #Face_of_Truth, Khartoum is no longer a city searching for signs of return, but a city that has already begun to regain its well-being. Many have returned, the airport has returned, institutions and markets have returned, yet the picture is still awaiting completion.

Therefore, Khartoum seems to be saying to those who still tie their decision to the completion of every detail: We all returned… except you. Come and complete the scene.

Stay well and in good health.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Shglawi55@gmail.