Sudanese army gains ground in Khartoum intensifies RSF pressure
January 27, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army made fresh gains on Monday in areas of Khartoum, Khartoum Bahri and East Nile, tightening its grip on the capital from the eastern countryside and shelled Rapid Support Forces (RSF) positions in the Kafouri district.
This advance comes two days after the army broke the siege of its headquarters in central Khartoum, the Signal Corps base, and a nearby intelligence facility in Khartoum Bahri, marking the start of the third phase of a military operation launched on September 26.
The third phase of military operations focuses on clearing rural and remote areas while continuing to sweep major cities like Khartoum, Omdurman, Bahri, and areas east of the Nile of rebel forces. This phase also aims to disrupt external supply lines and cripple the Rapid Support Forces’ ability to reorganize and re-establish themselves.
Military sources told Sudan Tribune the army had pushed into parts of eastern Khartoum near Al-Rabat College in the Burri district, and deployed on the southern front facing the army headquarters towards the Armed Forces Bridge – Koper Bridge.
They reported that an army force had advanced through large sections of the Al-Azba and Kafouri neighbourhoods in the East Nile locality of Khartoum Bahri.
After recapturing and securing the perimeter of the Al-Jaili refinery north of Khartoum, the army moved forces east towards East Nile locality in the Ad Babaker and Ramallah neighbourhoods. These forces are expected to link up with those advancing in Kafouri.
The sources said the army used heavy artillery from Omdurman, across the Nile, to bombard RSF positions in Kafouri, where plumes of smoke were seen.
Kafouri and East Nile are key RSF strongholds. The RSF commander in Khartoum Bahri has increased security around his residence in Kafouri following the army’s recent advances.
Central Reserve Forces are deployed in the Abu Saleh administrative area, part of the rural East Nile area, to prevent RSF infiltration. Other forces are besieging the RSF in eastern Gezira state.
The army continued its slow advance in the Al-Muassasah, Al-Shaabiya, and Al-Safiya neighbourhoods to reach the central station, paving the way for crossing the Mak Nimr Bridge to meet the force likely moving from the army headquarters towards the presidential palace, government buildings and the Arab market.
The sources said the army conducted extensive searches in the Al-Mazad and Al-Shaabiya neighbourhoods in southern Khartoum while organising evacuations of remaining residents.
The army has retaken large areas in Omdurman and Khartoum Bahri but still needs to take crucial steps to encircle the RSF in Khartoum, namely linking its forces at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile rivers, the Armoured Corps base, and the southern neighbourhoods of the capital with the army headquarters.