Sudanese army breaks siege of Omdurman’s Corps of Engineers
February 16, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army announced Friday that its forces had broken the siege of the Corps of Engineers in southern Omdurman for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
This marks a significant development in the ongoing struggle for control of the capital and potentially shifts the balance of power in the wider conflict.
After fierce battles during the past two weeks, army forces stationed north of Omdurman managed to break through the RSF siege and link up with troops inside the Corps of Engineers.
In a celebratory telegram, Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Mohamed Osman Al-Hussein hailed the achievement as an “important victory” and a “difficult stage overcome.”
Social media footage showed the convergence of army forces and joyous celebrations in the Al-Thawra suburb. However, it is important to note that pockets of RSF resistance remain in several Omdurman neighbourhoods, such as the radio and TV broadcasting houses and surrounding areas, such as the Ombada district in western Omdurman.
This breakthrough comes after months of RSF attacks on key army installations, including the Corps of Engineers, the Armoury Corps, and the Wadi Seydna airbase. The three sites that they failed to capture have now joined forces in a concerted effort to retake control of Khartoum from the paramilitary forces.
On Thursday, the army released videos depicting officers from the Armoury Corps inside the Corps of Engineers, further solidifying the narrative of a coordinated push.
The siege’s breaking represents a potential turning point in the conflict, but the fight for control of Khartoum is far from over. Only time will tell if the army can capitalize on this momentum and ultimately achieve its stated goal.
(ST)