The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured the Khartoum International Airport from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rival paramilitary group on Wednesday.
“Khartoum is free, it’s done,” Sudanese Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said during his visit to the palace in Khartoum on Wednesday for the first time in nearly two years.
Sudan’s military has been gaining control of key areas in Khartoum since February. The army retook the presidential palace on Friday and has since moved quickly to reclaim key sites across the capital.
Residents of Khartoum flooded the streets, dancing in celebration after the army declared victory over the RSF, which has controlled large parts of Sudan’s capital since conflict erupted in April 2023.
Khartoum erupts in celebrations as residents take to the streets, cheering, dancing and waving Sudanese flags after the army declared victory over RSF. pic.twitter.com/zzVj1AZKMk
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) March 26, 2025
Army officials said they now control all major bridges over the Nile River within the capital, with only the Jebel Awliya Bridge, just south of Khartoum, remaining under RSF control. Footage circulating on social media shows RSF fighters retreating on foot from central neighborhoods toward the area.
AJAHAHAHA LOOK AT THE RSF SOLDIER CROSSING A BRIDGE BAREFOOT TO ESCAPE KHARTOUM HAHAHAHAGA
LOOK HOW THE TABLES HAVE TURNED pic.twitter.com/HKXtON9qxF— Ze|| Keep Eyes On Sudan 🇸🇩 (@ZeSudan) March 26, 2025
While recapturing Khartoum is a major gain for the army, the RSF still controls much of western Sudan, including large parts of the Darfur region.
The RSF has been accused of carrying out widespread ethnic-based massacres, systematic sexual violence, and targeted attacks on civilians. In January, the United States formally declared the group responsible for genocide and imposed sanctions on its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti.
