The Sudanese army announced on Thursday that it has successfully cleared the last remaining positions of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum Governorate.
“Our forces have decisively eliminated the last strongholds of the RSF militia in Khartoum Governorate,” the army said in a statement, refuting claims that the RSF had voluntarily withdrawn as part of a deal with the government. The RSF has yet to respond to the army’s statement.
On Wednesday, Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared the capital “free” after government forces pushed the RSF out of the city.
The army has recently regained control of several key regions, including Al-Jazira, White Nile, North Kordofan, Sennar, and Blue Nile states, as the RSF’s territorial hold continues to diminish.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and displaced 14 million people, according to the UN and local authorities. However, research from US universities suggests the death toll could be as high as 130,000.
International organizations, including the UN, have repeatedly called for an end to the war, warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis as millions face starvation and worsening living conditions. The conflict has now engulfed 13 of Sudan’s 18 states.