Sudan’s Army Triumphs in Khartoum Amid RSF Defiance
Sudan’s army has declared a major victory, claiming full control of Khartoum after nearly two years of brutal warfare against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Military spokesman Nabil Abdullah announced late Thursday that the last RSF fighters had been expelled from the capital, marking a turning point in the conflict. The army’s success follows a relentless counteroffensive that pushed back the RSF from key strongholds, including the presidential palace.
Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan symbolically stepped into the reclaimed presidential palace, declaring Khartoum “free” from RSF control. The military’s advance came after retaking Jebel Awliya, a strategic southern district that severed the RSF’s supply lines. With the bridge under army control, RSF fighters reportedly fled westward toward Darfur, leaving behind isolated pockets of resistance. Analysts suggest this victory could shift the war’s momentum, but the RSF remains defiant, vowing to regroup and fight back.
Despite the army’s triumph, the RSF insists it has only “repositioned” rather than surrendered. In a bold statement, the group warned of “crushing defeats” for the army on all fronts. Meanwhile, witnesses report RSF remnants hiding in residential areas, fearing capture. The humanitarian toll remains catastrophic, with millions displaced and thousands dead. As Sudan’s army consolidates power in Khartoum, the RSF’s new alliance with rebel factions threatens to widen the conflict further.
Khartoum’s Liberation: A Hard-Won Victory
For months, Sudan’s army struggled to regain footing after the RSF’s lightning takeover of Khartoum in April 2023. The paramilitary group, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, exploited urban warfare tactics, embedding fighters in civilian areas. However, the army’s recent offensive, backed by heavy artillery and drone strikes, dismantled RSF strongholds block by block. Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan confirmed that the capture of Jebel Awliya Bridge crippled the RSF’s escape routes, leaving them trapped.
Military sources reveal that RSF fighters are now cornered in scattered hideouts, unable to resupply or reinforce. The army’s air superiority has further weakened the paramilitaries, cutting off their supply chains from Darfur. Yet, experts caution that the RSF’s retreat may be tactical. The group still controls vast territories in western Sudan, including most of Darfur, where it has recruited heavily among local militias. The army’s victory in Khartoum, while significant, does not guarantee an end to the war.
Civilians in Khartoum remain caught in the crossfire, with reports of RSF fighters using homes as shields. The United Nations warns of famine-like conditions as aid access dwindles. While Sudan’s army celebrates its reclaimed capital, the RSF’s resilience suggests the conflict is far from over. The group’s ability to strike back, as seen in Blue Nile state, underscores its lingering threat.
RSF’s Defiant Stand and New Alliances
Hours after al-Burhan’s palace announcement, the RSF unveiled a strategic pact with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), a rebel faction controlling parts of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The alliance, formalized last month, aims to establish a rival government, challenging the army’s authority. SPLM-N leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, previously neutral, now aligns with the RSF, escalating the war’s regional dimensions.
On Thursday, drones allegedly operated by the RSF and its allies struck Damazin, Blue Nile’s capital, targeting the airport and Roseires Dam. The army claims it intercepted the attacks, but the assault signals the RSF’s expanded capabilities. Observers fear the conflict could spill into Ethiopia, where ethnic militias have already been drawn into the fighting. The RSF’s defiance, coupled with its new partnerships, complicates the army’s path to total victory.
The International Rescue Committee calls Sudan’s crisis the “biggest humanitarian disaster ever recorded,” with over 12 million displaced. As Sudan’s army tightens its grip on Khartoum, the RSF’s guerrilla tactics and alliances ensure the war’s continuation. The battle for Sudan, now split between north and south, enters a dangerous new phase with no clear end in sight.
Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens
The war’s toll on civilians is staggering. Tens of thousands have died, and famine looms as agriculture collapses. Aid groups struggle to access RSF-held areas, where atrocities, including ethnic cleansing, have been reported. The army’s blockade of Darfur has worsened shortages, leaving millions without food or medicine.
In Khartoum, residents describe a city in ruins. “There’s no water, no electricity—just bombs and fear,” one survivor told Al Jazeera. The UN estimates 25 million need assistance, but funding shortages hamper relief efforts. With Sudan’s army and RSF locked in a deadly stalemate, the world’s attention drifts, leaving civilians to suffer.
