Khartoum: The Sudanese army has declared full control over Khartoum after intense battles with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan marked the victory by entering the Republican Palace for the first time in two years, calling the capital “free” from RSF fighters.
The army’s counteroffensive, launched after months of setbacks, gradually pushed through central Sudan toward Khartoum. The final push came after securing Jebel Awliya, a key area in the south of the city, forcing RSF fighters to flee west toward Darfur.
However, army sources report that some RSF fighters remain trapped in residential buildings, fearing capture.
Despite the setback, the RSF remains defiant, rejecting surrender and pledging to strike back. The group recently formed a military alliance with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, a rebel faction controlling parts of South Kordofan and Blue Nile state. Shortly after the army’s announcement, drone attacks hit the Blue Nile capital, Damazin, targeting an airport and the Roseires Dam. The army claims its air defenses intercepted the attacks.
The ongoing war has devastated Sudan, killing tens of thousands and displacing over 12 million people. The conflict has effectively split the country, with the army holding the north and east, while the RSF controls much of the south and nearly all of Darfur. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with no clear resolution in sight.
