Sudan’s army advances on presidential palace in Khartoum

February 18, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Heavy fighting erupted in central Khartoum on Tuesday between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the army advanced towards the Presidential Palace, which the RSF has controlled since the start of the conflict in mid-April 2023.

Field sources told Sudan Tribune that the Sudanese army clashed with RSF elements in central Khartoum who attempted to resupply their forces inside the Presidential Palace.

The RSF fighters were trying to deliver ammunition and supplies to their colleagues inside the Presidential Palace, which overlooks the Blue Nile River, opposite Khartoum Bahri. The army regained control of Khartoum Bahri in January.

The RSF forces inside the Presidential Palace are now besieged, following the army’s seizure of several strategic locations near central Khartoum and around the Presidential Palace.

The army’s armoured forces are advancing from the southwest of Khartoum and have recently managed to penetrate deeper into the city, regaining control of the Abu Hamama intersection and neutralizing the Liberty Bridge leading to central Khartoum.

Meanwhile, army forces, advancing from the General Command headquarters, are approaching positions near the Presidential Palace, after taking control of the Byblos Bank building at the intersection of Al-Mak Nimir and Al-Baladiya Streets.

Smoke billowed from three locations in Khartoum following artillery shelling by the army from Omdurman, targeting RSF gatherings in central, eastern, and western Khartoum.