For the second consecutive day, intense fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in the nation’s capital on Friday.
Following a significant military offensive on Thursday, which saw army forces advance across the White Nile and Al-Fatihab bridges from Omdurman, capturing positions on the Khartoum side, the combat has now centered in the Al-Maqran district west of central Khartoum.
Friday’s assault aimed to dislodge the RSF, who are fiercely defending Al-Maqran with snipers positioned in high-rise buildings.
Heavy artillery bombarded paramilitary concentrations across the capital, while the army deployed infantry and aircraft to target RSF locations.
According to military officials who spoke with Sudan Tribune, Thursday’s army offensive effectively dismantled RSF sniper positions in the Petrodar building and the Coral Hotel.
There were also exchanges of gunfire between the rival factions along the Al-Halfaya bridge, a key artery connecting northern Omdurman and Khartoum Bahri. The strategically significant Khartoum oil refinery, under RSF control since the conflict began in April 2023, was targeted by the army’s air force north of Khartoum Bahri. Plumes of smoke from the refinery indicated the latest in a series of attacks on the facility.
Conflict Spreads to other Fronts
In other parts of the country, the battle has also escalated. Heavy clashes erupted along the Al-Faw axis, a critical defensive line between Al-Qadarif state and Al-Jazirah state in eastern Sudan. Reports indicate the army advanced from Al-Faw towards Al-Jazirah, engaging RSF forces near “Village 27” on the main road linking Al-Qadarif and Wad Madani. Airstrikes were launched to support the army’s push, targeting RSF positions west of the frontline.
Meanwhile, RSF commander Abu Aqla Kikl is reportedly amassing a considerable force—around 35 combat vehicles—at Jabal Al-Abator, anticipating further army advances into Al-Jazirah.
In North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher, fighting flared overnight between the army, its allies, and the RSF. The battle, centered southeast of the city, was accompanied by airstrikes on RSF positions. In retaliation, the RSF shelled the city’s cattle market. El Fasher has been a flashpoint for constant fighting since May, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands and hundreds of civilian casualties.