Sudan’s airspace to remain closed until July 31

By Adel Abdel-Rahim

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - Sudan on Monday extended the closure of the country’s airspace until July 31 amid ongoing clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority said Sudan’s airspace will remain closed to all flights until July 31.

Only humanitarian aid and evacuation flights will be exempted from the closure, it added.

Sudan has been ravaged by clashes between the army and the RSF since April, in a conflict that killed nearly 3,000 civilians and injured thousands, according to local medics.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that nearly three million people have been displaced by the current conflict in Sudan.

Several cease-fire agreements brokered by Saudi and US mediators between the warring rivals had failed to end violence in the country.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara