Sudan’s military has announced significant advancements in its ongoing conflict against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), regaining control of the Kafouri district in Khartoum North, also known as Bahri, which had been under RSF control since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023. The announcement was made on Saturday by military spokesman Nabil Abdullah, who indicated that army forces, in conjunction with allied units, had successfully “completed on Friday the clearing of” Kafouri, as well as other areas in Sharq El Nil.
The RSF, which has been a dominant force in the conflict since its inception, has seen its positions particularly weakened in recent weeks as the Sudanese army has intensified its operations within Bahri, a historically significant stronghold for the paramilitary group. The Kafouri district, noted for being one of Khartoum’s wealthiest neighborhoods, was reportedly used as a crucial base for RSF leaders, including the residence of Abdel Rahim Daglo—brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo and deputy within the paramilitary organization.
The military’s recapture of Kafouri is a strategic blow to the RSF and signals the army’s continued efforts to reclaim full control over Khartoum North, a district now home to approximately one million residents. The unfolding events may represent a pivotal shift in the ongoing conflict, which has seen the RSF control vast territories in and around the capital since the war erupted nearly two years ago.
Recent reports from witnesses in southern Khartoum indicate escalating violence, with explosions and clashes heard in central Khartoum on Saturday morning. This surge in military activity coincides with the army’s objective to push further into the heart of the capital, a move that could potentially shift the tide of the conflict.
The confrontation between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former ally Daglo has led to a nationwide crisis, described by the International Rescue Committee as the “biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded,” with over 12 million people displaced since the conflict began. As the situation develops, the implications of the military’s recent gains could resonate throughout the region, as both sides continue to vie for control amidst a backdrop of severe humanitarian needs and challenges.
