Sudan army advancing on central Khartoum: military source

Sudan’s military on Thursday launched a multi-pronged advance to reclaim central Khartoum, an army source told AFP, after a weeks-long offensive recaptured much of the capital from paramilitaries.

The army, at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, has in recent weeks mounted a fierce assault to reclaim full control of the capital.

Nationwide, at least 191 people were killed in the past week, according to an AFP tally of United Nations and activist figures.

The army is “close to reaching the centre of Khartoum… and expelling the Daglo militia”, a source in the army told AFP on Thursday, referring to RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

“Our armoured forces are advancing from multiple axes,” he added, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

On Wednesday, the army said it had “cleared out” the neighbourhoods of Al-Remila and the Industrial Area in central Khartoum — only three kilometres (1.9 miles) from the RSF-held Republican Palace.

Eyewitnesses on Thursday said army troops had to make their way past RSF snipers posted on high-rises in what used to be Khartoum’s business and government district.

An RSF spokesperson said Thursday reports of the advance were “lies and rumours”, in a similar statement to those made in recent weeks ahead of every RSF retreat.

According to the army source, the military on Thursday secured a strategic base controlling the road from central Khartoum to Omdurman across the Nile River which, together with Khartoum North (Bahri), make up greater Khartoum.

Further south, witnesses reported clashes between the army and the RSF around Soba Bridge — a key southeastern entry point to the capital.

– ‘Mass influxes of war-wounded’ –

The army source said troops from the country’s east “are close to achieving their goal of merging with the forces coming from Al-Jazira state,” just south of the capital.

Following the army’s recapture of Al-Jazira state capital Wad Madani last month, forces surged through Khartoum, breaking a nearly two-year siege by the RSF on its headquarters and pushing the paramilitary to the edges of Khartoum North.

The army’s advance on the capital is its largest victory in a year, since it regained Omdurman.

Since it erupted, the war has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted 12 million and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory.

After months of stalemate, the army has appeared to have turned the tide by expanding its fighter base, replenishing its arsenal and rebuilding its urban combat capabilities.