The Sudanese army intensified shelling in Omdurman Thursday, pursuing Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters after declaring victory in Khartoum, marking a potential turning point in the two-year conflict that has devastated Sudan’s capital region.
“Khartoum is free,” proclaimed army chief Abdul Fattah al-Burhan from the recaptured presidential palace. For residents like teacher Ahmed Hassan, the announcement offers relief after prolonged suffering. “During the last two years, the RSF made our life hell, killing and stealing. They didn’t respect anybody,” he stated.
While the army controls most of Omdurman, located across the Nile from Khartoum, RSF fighters maintain positions in southern districts. Witnesses reported RSF troops retreating via the Jebel Aulia dam south of Khartoum, with some redeploying to reinforce Omdurman and others heading westward toward Darfur, where fighting continues around al-Fashir.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between former coup allies Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has exacted a catastrophic toll. More than 12 million Sudanese have been displaced, half the population faces acute hunger, and estimated deaths reached 61,000 in Khartoum state alone during the first 14 months.
Both sides now appear positioned to establish rival administrations. The army’s capture of Khartoum could pave the way for its government announcement, while the RSF, which has consolidated control in western Sudan, has indicated support for a separate civilian administration.
The war has amplified regional instability, affecting neighboring countries already struggling with internal conflicts, including Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, and South Sudan.