Sudan's military initiates offensive to reclaim territories in the metropolis
The military, who lost control of the majority of the capital at the initiation of the conflict, prepared for an announcement by its leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later on.
Eyewitnesses reported intense bombardments and skirmishes as military troops attempted to traverse bridges connecting the three adjacent cities forming the greater capital, Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri, situated along the Nile.
A 48-year-old local resident, Ahmed Abdalla, informed Reuters via phone, "The military is conducting intense artillery and aerial bombardments on Halfaya and Shambat, areas in Bahri close to the river. The explosions' sounds are deafening."
Footage videos depicted black smoke rising above the capital and the sounds of the conflict in the background.
Military sources asserted that their forces had breached bridges in Khartoum and Bahri. However, the RSF relayed to Reuters that they had foiled the military's attempts to cross two bridges leading to Khartoum. The credibility of these accounts could not be substantiated independently.
Though the military regained control of certain areas in Omdurman early this year, it primarily relies on artillery and aerial assaults and has struggled to dislodge portable RSF ground forces located within other sections of the capital.
Darfur Worries
The RSF has also made significant strides in various regions of Sudan in recent times, culminating in a conflict that has amplified a significant humanitarian dilemma, displacing more than 10 million people and pushing parts of the country towards extreme hunger or famine.
Diplomatic endeavors by the United States and other nations have failed, with the military rejecting participation in discussions last month in Switzerland.
In mid-October, the struggle for power over al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state in western Sudan, intensified as the RSF launched an assault against the military and other allied former rebel groups from positions surrounding the city.
Al-Fashir remains the last military stronghold within the Darfur region, where humanitarian organizations and rights groups allege that the RSF and its allies have carried out ethnically targeted attacks. The RSF denies playing a role in the violence.
The UN human rights agency declared on Thursday that summary executions, sexual and gender-based violence, and abductions of women and young men had occurred in al-Fashir, along with a surge in civilian casualties.
"Given our historical experiences, if al-Fashir falls, there's a heightened risk of ethnically targeted violations and abuses, including summary executions and sexual violence, by the RSF and allied militia," stated U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk.
The UN Security Council and secretary-general have called for an end to the siege of al-Fashir, housing over 1.8 million residents and displaced individuals.
The conflict commenced when disputes between the RSF and the military, who were competing for influence ahead of an internationally supported transition to civilian administration, escalated into open hostilities.
After staging a coup in 2021, two years following the ousting of autocrat Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising, the army and the RSF shared power.
The conflict in Sudan has led to a displacement of over 10 million people, primarily in Africa, and has amplified a humanitarian crisis. Despite diplomatic efforts by the United States and other nations, the military has rejected participating in discussions last month in Switzerland.
The military's control of certain areas in Omdurman may be tenuous, as they primarily rely on artillery and aerial assaults and have struggled to dislodge the RSF's portable ground forces from other sections of the greater capital, which includes Khartoum.
