Sudanese army makes advances in Khartoum after capturing Gezira's capital

Ahram Online , Sunday 12 Jan 2025

The Sudanese army announced on Sunday that it had taken control of the Rawad Residential Complex in Khartoum, a day after it captured the strategic city of Wad Medani, the capital of Gezira province.

Sudan
People take to the streets of Port Sudan to celebrate the reported advance of Sudanese military forces and allied armed groups on the key Al-Jazira state capital Wad Madan. AFP

 

"The heroes of the Armored Corps in the Al-Shajara military area have taken control of the Rawad Residential Complex in northwest Khartoum, inflicting heavy losses on the rebel Rapid Support militia", the Sudanese Armed Forces said in a post on Facebook.

On Saturday, Sudan's military and its allies took back the strategic city of Wad Medani from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), dealing a significant blow to the notorious paramilitary group which the United States accused of committing genocide in the country's ongoing civil war.

According to Al Jazeera, Sudanese army artillery shelling from Omdurman targeted the RSF positions in Khartoum Bahri on Sunday. This was amid the army's ongoing advance in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, following prior advances on other fronts.

A military source told Al Jazeera that the army advanced from its stronghold at the Armored Corps in southern Khartoum towards the city centre.

The source also added that the army destroyed the RSF's defences at the Rawad Residential Complex and Best Care Hospital.

Additionally, Al Jazeera reported that the army regained control of the Bakash Mountain range surrounding the Al-Jaili oil refinery in Khartoum Bahri after fierce clashes near the refinery.

Sudanese soldiers posted videos on social media, purportedly showing forces celebrating with residents in the city centre of Wad Medani.

One video showed residents taking to the streets to celebrate the city's "liberation" shouting, "Allah is Great."

Since the RSF captured Wad Medani in December 2023, tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in and around the city.

In recent months, the RSF has suffered multiple battlefield blows, giving the military the upper hand in the war.

The RSF has lost control of many areas in Khartoum, the capital's sister city of Omdurman, and the eastern and central provinces.

Last December, Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused the paramilitary (RSF) and allied militias of committing widespread sexual violence in southern Sudan.
In its new report, HRW said it had documented dozens of cases since September 2023 involving women and girls aged between seven and 50 who were subjected to sexual violence, including gang rape and sexual slavery, in South Kordofan state.
 

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