The Sudanese army announced on Friday that it had successfully broken the siege on its headquarters in Khartoum, imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the war began in April 2023. In a statement, the army confirmed that troops from Bahri (Khartoum North) and Omdurman had merged with the forces stationed at the General Command of the Armed Forces, effectively lifting the siege.
The military also stated that it had expelled the RSF from the Jaili oil refinery, the largest in the country, which had been under the paramilitary’s control since the war’s outset. While the situation could not be independently verified due to a communication blackout, this military advancement is considered a significant victory.
The army’s progress in regaining its headquarters marks a turning point, following months of heavy fighting. It allows the army to secure an open supply line into Khartoum, with the military source describing the operation as a debilitating blow to the RSF’s ability to launch counterattacks. The army and the RSF have remained in a stalemate, with regular artillery exchanges and civilian casualties from bombings.
The fighting has devastated Khartoum and its surroundings, with tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. Sudan is facing one of the world’s largest internal displacement crises, with famine spreading and a severe humanitarian crisis worsening. The United States has sanctioned both army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo for their roles in the conflict.
