In a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) achieved a major breakthrough in Omdurman, directly beside Khartoum, the nation’s capital. The SAF reported the successful lifting of a ten-month siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the SAF’s engineering corps. This operation marks a crucial turning point in the conflict that began in April of the previous year.
The operation saw intense combat in central Omdurman, ultimately allowing the SAF to reestablish connections with their besieged engineering corps. The reunion of SAF forces from the city’s southern and northern sectors has led to a consolidation of their control over strategic areas. As a direct consequence, RSF forces in the western part of Omdurman find themselves effectively isolated, with their logistical and operational link to Khartoum now severely compromised by the SAF’s control over critical access points, including a key bridge across the Nile River.
The conflict has been marked by significant humanitarian concerns, including widespread reports of human rights abuses. The RSF (Rapid Response Forces) have previously been linked to both the Wagner Group and Iran. This strategic success of the SAF shifts the conflict’s balance, potentially limiting the RSF’s ability to operate effectively in the city.Â
After a 10-month siege, #Sudan‘s army breaks through in Omdurman, reuniting northern and southern forces. This strategic victory isolates the RSF, now cut off except for a precarious bridge link to Khartoum. The engineering corp’s are celebrating the direct contact. pic.twitter.com/fVFdjN6GSU
— Noah Schmidt (@noahsofx) February 19, 2024
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