Sudanese Army Advances in Khartoum Amidst Intensifying Conflict

The Sudanese army is advancing in Khartoum, intensifying the conflict with the RSF. Recent military operations have led to strategic gains, including the capture of critical locations. Civilians are facing severe impacts from continued violence, with numerous casualties reported. The ongoing war has resulted in widespread displacement and humanitarian crises, threatening stability in Sudan.

The Sudanese army is reportedly making significant advances in Khartoum as it closes in on the capital, intensifying the ongoing battle with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). As of Monday, army forces converged within the city center, applying increased pressure on the RSF, which has been engaged in conflict with the army since April 2023. Military spokesman Nabil Abdullah Ali confirmed that the army’s Armoured Corps successfully captured a key hospital from the RSF, allowing them to reinforce their positions in central Khartoum.

The latest military strategy aims to solidify control over much of Khartoum as army forces now engage RSF fighters from both southern and eastern directions. A military expert indicated that this maneuver is likely to escalate the conflict, particularly around vital locations such as the presidential palace. In this ongoing war, the army seeks to regain territories lost early in the conflict.

Recent violence in Omdurman, a neighboring city to Khartoum, resulted in civilian casualties, including six deaths and 36 injuries attributed to RSF shelling. A medical professional disclosed that amongst the casualties, two fatalities and a significant number of the injured were children, highlighting the severe humanitarian implications of the conflict. The bombardments affected residential zones and areas where children played.

In response to the escalating conflicts, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo publicly asserted that his forces would not abandon their hold on the Republican Palace. Reports indicate thick smoke in several sectors of the city, further illustrating the chaos as gunfire and explosions persist. This conflict has led to grave humanitarian crises, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing over 12 million people nationwide.

In North Kordofan, violence also affected civilians as RSF shelling resulted in additional casualties. Recent statistics presented by the United Nations show that about 200,000 people in the region are displaced, with nearly one million facing acute food shortages. Meanwhile, the military has been regaining key strategic positions, including a recent breach of a two-year RSF siege on the southern city that serves as a vital route between Khartoum and the Darfur region.

The ongoing feud has significantly affected the socio-political landscape, with RSF controlling much of Darfur and parts of southern Sudan while the army retains strength in the north and east. The army’s advances in central Sudan now suggest it may reclaim overall control of Khartoum as the conflict unfolds.

The Sudanese army has made notable advances in Khartoum, intensifying its conflict with the RSF and capturing significant strategic positions. Civilians continue to suffer amidst the violence, with recent shelling causing tragic casualties in Omdurman and other regions. The ongoing conflict has resulted in vast displacements and humanitarian crises, underscoring the urgent need for resolution. As both sides maintain their positions, the future of Sudan remains uncertain, teetering on the edge of deeper division and suffering.

Original Source: www.france24.com