ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Army Chief’s announcement follows recent successes in reclaiming key locations from the RSF
In a significant development in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, Sudanese Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared the capital, Khartoum, “free” on Wednesday after government forces successfully recaptured the Khartoum International Airport from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The announcement came just days after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) regained control of the presidential palace, which had been occupied by the RSF since the fighting erupted in April 2023.
Key Strategic Gains
The recapture of the airport marks a crucial victory for the SAF, who have been intensifying their offensive in recent weeks. Al-Burhan*, in a televised address from the presidential palace, confirmed that SAF forces had driven the RSF out of central Khartoum. This marks the first time in nearly two years that the Sudanese army has operated from the palace, symbolizing a significant step in the struggle for control of the country’s capital.
Military sources reported that the army has also regained control of important strategic locations, including both sides of the Manshiya Bridge, a vital crossing point over the Blue Nile River. The RSF now controls only the Jebel Awliya Bridge*, located south of Khartoum, which is their last remaining escape route out of the city.
On Wednesday, SAF forces advanced further, surrounding the Jebel Awliya area, an RSF stronghold located just south of the capital. Witnesses noted that RSF fighters appeared to be retreating towards Jebel Awliya and beyond, indicating a shift in the balance of power.
War Shifts to Darfur
Despite the gains in Khartoum, experts caution that the conflict is far from over. Hiba Morgan, a Sudan analyst, warned that while the SAF has made notable progress in the capital, the war is likely to intensify in the **Darfur region. “The RSF’s influence in Khartoum has waned significantly, but they still hold considerable power in Darfur and other parts of southwestern Sudan,” Morgan told Al Jazeera.
Political analysts, including Amgad Fareid Eltayeb, emphasized that military victories alone would not end the conflict. “The RSF’s grip on power must be politically dismantled,” Eltayeb remarked, pointing to ongoing foreign support for the RSF, particularly from the United Arab Emirates*, as a factor prolonging the conflict.
Celebrations Amidst Hardship
The army’s recent successes have sparked celebrations in Khartoum, where residents had endured more than two years of violence and instability. Videos on social media captured scenes of jubilant civilians, including former prisoners, flooding the streets in celebration after being freed from RSF-controlled areas.
*Elbashir Idris, a Sudanese analyst, described the RSF’s collapse as happening “faster than the army’s ability to deploy itself.” Many Sudanese view the SAF’s recent gains as a turning point in the conflict, with **Idris* adding, “For many people, this victory marks the beginning of the RSF’s downfall.”
Outlook
While the recapture of Khartoum airport is a major victory for the Sudanese army, the broader conflict remains ongoing. The shifting dynamics in Khartoum could signal a change in the war’s trajectory, but analysts warn that military solutions alone will not bring long-term peace. The situation in Darfur and other regions, where the RSF maintains control, suggests that the path to stability in Sudan will require more than just military victories. It will require a comprehensive political settlement that addresses the deep-rooted issues driving the conflict.
