Sudan’s army has advanced to within 500 meters of the presidential palace, engaged in heavy fighting against the RSF. The conflict has led to significant casualties, displacing millions and causing extreme food insecurity across the nation, particularly in North Darfur. Recent military advances signal an intensified effort to reclaim lost territory.
Sudan’s regular army has advanced to within 500 meters of the presidential palace, which was overtaken by rival paramilitaries almost two years ago. Ongoing clashes in Khartoum have been marked by explosions and gunfire between army troops and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), indicating an uptick in violence. Recent military reports indicate that army forces have destroyed a convoy of 30 RSF vehicles advancing southward.
These military actions are part of a broader campaign to regain territories in greater Khartoum that the army lost to the RSF when the conflict erupted in April 2023. The army has successfully retaken Khartoum North and East Nile district while continuing to engage RSF forces that still hold positions in the capital and Omdurman.
The power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has resulted in significant casualties, with tens of thousands dead and over 12 million displaced. The country is effectively divided, with the army dominating the north and east, while the RSF controls much of the western and southern regions of Sudan.
In North Darfur, violence is escalating in El-Fasher, the only state capital not under RSF control. The area has faced an RSF siege since last May, and despite the army repelling several RSF assaults, the conflict is causing humanitarian crises. Local displacement camps like Zamzam are experiencing famine, affecting approximately 320,000 individuals. UN estimates report about two million people in Sudan suffering from extreme food insecurity.
The situation is dire as approximately 1.7 million people are displaced in North Darfur alone. Reports indicate that fierce battles continue in Malha, near the Libya and Chad borders, as both the army and its allied militias confront RSF forces in these regions.
In summary, the ongoing military conflict in Sudan reflects a significant escalation in violence as the army attempts to reclaim territory lost to the RSF. The humanitarian impact is profound, affecting millions through displacement and food insecurity. The struggle for power exemplified by the rivalry between top military leaders continues to deeply divide the nation and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
