Sudan Army Advances Near Presidential Palace Amid Intensifying Conflict

Sudan’s regular army troops have advanced to within 500 meters of the presidential palace, leading to intensified clashes with the RSF. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and over 12 million displaced people. The army has regained some ground in Khartoum, yet the situation in North Darfur remains precarious with humanitarian crises escalating.

On Thursday, Sudan’s regular army troops advanced to within 500 meters of the presidential palace, which has been under the control of rival paramilitaries for nearly two years. Reports from agency journalists indicate ongoing explosions and gunfire throughout Khartoum, where clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have escalated recently.

During the advancement in central Khartoum, army forces reportedly “destroyed a Rapid Support Forces convoy of 30 vehicles attempting to withdraw southward.” This escalation occurs amid a significant offensive by the army to reclaim territories in greater Khartoum that were originally lost to the RSF during the conflict that erupted in April 2023.

The ongoing power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and has displaced over 12 million people. As a result, the conflict has essentially divided the country, with the army controlling the north and east, while the RSF dominates much of the west and south.

Recently, the army has successfully regained control over Khartoum North, located across the Blue Nile from the city center, as well as the East Nile district. However, the RSF continues to maintain several positions within Khartoum and the adjoining city of Omdurman, situated across the White Nile.

Battles have intensified in El-Fasher, the battleground of North Darfur’s besieged capital, which has faced a RSF siege since May. El-Fasher remains the only state capital in Darfur not under paramilitary rule, while RSF attempts to assume complete control over the expansive western region persist.

The army and allied militias have successfully repelled RSF attacks on El-Fasher, although RSF shelling has reportedly targeted nearby Zamzam displacement camps, resulting in significant humanitarian concerns. Local activists indicate that Zamzam, along with other camps around El-Fasher, has been impacted by famine conditions, which a UN-backed assessment predicts will extend to five additional areas by May.

Current UN estimates reveal that approximately two million people in Sudan are grappling with severe food insecurity, with 320,000 individuals already in famine conditions. In North Darfur specifically, nearly 1.7 million people have been displaced. Minni Minnawi, the governor of Darfur, stated on Thursday that the army and allied militias are engaged in “fierce battles” against the RSF near the town of Malha, approximately 210 kilometers north of El-Fasher, close to the borders of Libya and Chad.

The situation in Sudan remains dire as army forces close in on the presidential palace amid intensified conflict with paramilitary groups. With millions displaced and severe food insecurity affecting vast populations, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. The power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo underscores the ongoing instability. Efforts to regain territories are met with fierce resistance, indicating a prolonged conflict with significant implications for the region.

Original Source: www.dawn.com