Sudanese army close to controlling northern Khartoum

The Sudanese army has taken control of one of the last strongholds of the Rapid Support Forces in northern Khartoum, its spokesman said on Saturday.

With this progress, the army is close to taking complete control of northern Khartoum, which, along with Khartoum and Omdurman, forms the capital of Sudan.

"Our forces today (Friday) with the allied units completed the cleansing of the Abu Gota area and areas east of the Nile and Kafouri from the gangs of Daglo's terrorist militias," Nabil Abdullah said in a statement, referring to the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, nicknamed "Hemedti."

This area, which is one of the richest areas of Khartoum and is home to one million people, is a stronghold of the Rapid Support Forces.

The army, which has been at war with the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, has launched a large-scale attack in recent weeks to regain full control of the capital, Khartoum.

An army source told Agence France-Presse that "forces are close to reaching and controlling central Khartoum... and expelling Dagalo's militia."

"Our armored forces are advancing from several axes," he added, requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

“When the force that brought down the Rapid Support Militia in Abu Qota advanced, it was not attacking a site, but rather demolishing and destroying it. It liberated Abu Qota when the enemy lost its cohesion, and after that it was nothing but an announcement of collapse.”

The collapse of the critical point "Abu Quta" after a desperate defense by the militia means opening gaps in the lines... pic.twitter.com/3WVA9LYz8n

— Sudanese military capabilities 🇸🇩 (@Sudanesearmy1) February 8, 2025

An informed field source told Al Jazeera that the army forces and supporting forces have approached the strategic battalion headquarters in the "Maqran Al-Nilein" area in Khartoum.

For its part, local sources told Al Jazeera that army forces are fighting battles on the outskirts of the "Jiyad" industrial area, which is about 40 kilometres south of the capital, Khartoum.

This comes as the Sudanese army continues its offensive launched a few weeks ago to extend its control over the entire capital.

In a related context, the Sudan Tribune website reported that Khartoum is still witnessing violent clashes in light of the advance of the army, which launched an attack weeks ago to regain control of the capital.

The army announced on Wednesday that it had cleared the Al-Rumaila and Industrial Zone neighbourhoods in the heart of Khartoum, just three kilometres from the presidential palace controlled by the Rapid Support Forces.

Source: Agencies