The Sudanese army has advanced to within 500 meters of the presidential palace held by rival paramilitaries. Fighting has intensified in Khartoum as the army seeks to reclaim territory lost to the RSF. This conflict has caused significant casualties and displacement, with millions facing food insecurity, particularly in North Darfur.
On Thursday, Sudanese army troops advanced within 500 meters of the presidential palace, which has been under the control of rival paramilitaries for nearly two years, according to military sources. Reports indicate explosions and gunfire across Khartoum as the army clashes with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amidst an intensifying conflict.
As part of their offensive in central Khartoum, army forces reportedly destroyed a RSF convoy of 30 vehicles attempting to retreat south. This fighting is part of a broader effort by the army to reclaim areas in Khartoum that were lost to the RSF earlier in the conflict that erupted in April 2023.
Recent military movements have seen soldiers from the south converge with those already stationed in the city center, increasing the pressure on paramilitary forces. The struggle for control between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has resulted in significant casualties, displacing over 12 million individuals and cleaving the nation in two, with the army dominant in the north and east while the RSF controls much of the west and south.
In recent developments, the army has recaptured Khartoum North and the East Nile district. However, RSF forces maintain a presence in parts of Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman. Combat has also escalated in North Darfur’s capital, El-Fasher, which has faced RSF siege since May. El-Fasher remains the only state capital in Darfur not fully occupied by the paramilitary group.
Although the army and its allied militias have managed to push back RSF assaults on El-Fasher, retaliatory shelling has targeted the Zamzam displacement camp, which is grappling with famine conditions. A UN assessment forecasts that the food crisis may extend to five more regions by May. Approximately two million people in Sudan face severe food insecurity, with 320,000 already suffering from famine-like conditions.
The situation in Sudan remains dire as the army moves closer to retaking the presidential palace, intensifying its offensive against the RSF. The conflict has resulted in substantial displacement and extreme food insecurity affecting millions. Ongoing battles, particularly in regions like North Darfur, continue to escalate the humanitarian crisis, highlighting the urgent need for intervention and support.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
