Sudan's Turbulent Path: Army Gains Ground in Khartoum

The Sudanese army has gained control over key areas in Khartoum, marking a major development in the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This comes amid Sudan's dire humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by a two-year war that began during the country's planned transition to democracy.

The Sudanese army has taken strategic control of Khartoum airport and its surrounding areas, according to military sources. This marks a significant development in Sudan's two-year-old conflict between the army and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

On Friday, the army seized the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum, a pivotal gain in a war that could lead to Sudan's division. The army, previously on its back foot, has made recent advances and reclaimed central territories from the RSF, which has concentrated its forces in southern Khartoum for strategic withdrawal to Omdurman.

The United Nations describes Sudan's situation as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with widespread famine and disease affecting its 50 million residents. Initially, the army and RSF collaborated after deposing Omar al-Bashir in 2019 but have since clashed, partly due to Bashir's development of the RSF as a counterweight to the army, led by officer Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

(With inputs from agencies.)