Sudan's Military Offensive: Battle for Khartoum Intensifies

Thursday 26 September 2024 - 11:38

In a significant development, Sudan's army has initiated a large-scale offensive in the capital city of Khartoum, aiming to reclaim territories held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Military sources have confirmed that this operation is the army's most substantial assault in months, with air strikes targeting RSF positions within the capital and its northern regions.

Reports from the heart of Khartoum provides a firsthand account of the army's progress, stating that they have gained control of three critical bridges, including those connecting the city of Omdurman to the capital. Morgan highlights that while the army made some gains in Omdurman earlier this year, their current strategy heavily relies on artillery and air strikes, making it challenging to dislodge the more effective RSF ground forces entrenched in Khartoum.

The roots of this conflict can be traced back to April 2023, when long-standing tensions between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo erupted, leading to a displacement crisis affecting over 10 million people, equivalent to a fifth of Sudan's population, both within the country and across its borders.

The humanitarian crisis resulting from this bloody civil war has reached dire proportions, yet diplomatic efforts led by the United States and other nations have faced setbacks, with the army refusing to participate in talks held in Switzerland last month. The army's strategy is to weaken the RSF's capabilities, thereby minimizing their presence in the capital. She adds that this offensive is well-timed, as the RSF is currently engaged on other fronts in North Darfur and the southern and central parts of Sudan.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concerns over the escalating conflict during a meeting with al-Burhan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. Guterres emphasized his deep worry about the conflict's devastating impact on Sudanese civilians and the risk of regional spillover.

This push by the army, which had lost control of most of the capital at the start of the conflict, comes ahead of al-Burhan's scheduled address to the UN meeting, highlighting the urgency and significance of the situation. A UN-backed assessment has further warned of the potential for widespread famine in Sudan, on a scale not witnessed globally for decades.