Sudanese army captures radio, TV headquarters after fierce battles

March 12, 2024 (OMDURMAN) – In a major development, the Sudanese army seized control of the national radio and television headquarters in Omdurman on Tuesday after intense clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The capture comes after weeks of siege and follows the destruction of a large RSF force attempting to escape the besieged headquarters during the first hours of Tuesday.

An army spokesperson’s statement described the operation as liberating the “memory and conscience of the Sudanese nation” from the RSF, which they called a “terrorist militia.”

Footage released by pro-army social media channels showed soldiers taking control of the broadcasting facilities.

This victory marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, a paramilitary group previously under army control.

The RSF had held the radio and television headquarters since the conflict’s beginning, using it as a military base and detention centre.

In recent months, the army intensified operations in Omdurman, gradually pushing the RSF out of key areas. The operations on the broadcasting centre involved heavy artillery, drones, and airstrikes.

The army claimed to have thwarted a large-scale RSF escape attempt earlier on Tuesday. Military sources reported the destruction of over 120 RSF vehicles and the capture of significant weaponry.

Video footage released by the army shows destroyed RSF vehicles of retreating fighters.