Sudan’s Army Retakes Khartoum Airport from RSF

Sudan’s armed forces have successfully recaptured Khartoum airport from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict that has plagued the country for nearly two years. Military sources confirmed that the army has “fully secured” the airport, a key strategic location in the Sudanese capital.

On Wednesday, troops surrounded areas surrounding the airport and encircled the strategic Jebel Awliya area, the last major RSF stronghold in Khartoum, according to a military source who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity. The army also secured both sides of the Manshiya bridge, which spans the Blue Nile, leaving the Jebel Awliya bridge as the only remaining crossing under RSF control.

The military has been engaged in a fierce battle with the RSF since April 2023, launching a concerted push to expel the paramilitary group from central Khartoum. This offensive gained momentum following a key victory last Friday when the army recaptured the presidential palace.

Since the onset of the conflict, RSF fighters have occupied the airport, located just east of the government and business district in central Khartoum. Witnesses and activists reported that RSF forces have begun retreating southward from neighborhoods they previously controlled, seemingly moving toward Jebel Awliya in anticipation of withdrawal via bridges to the neighboring city of Omdurman.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands, displaced over 12 million people, and created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, marked by extreme hunger and widespread displacement. As the army continues its campaign, the situation remains fluid and volatile, with significant implications for the future of Sudan and its people.