Sudanese army claims near total control of Khartoum Offensive ongoing

Heavy explosions and plumes of smoke were reported near the Faculty of Education at the University of Khartoum in Omdurman on May 20, as fierce clashes continued between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced significant gains in their ongoing offensive, confirming they have seized control of the Al-Saliha suburb—long considered the final RSF stronghold in Khartoum State, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media. 

According to military spokesman Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, SAF troops are conducting sweeping operations in southern and western Omdurman, aiming to secure full control of the capital region.

Video footage circulated by army personnel appeared to show soldiers inside what they claimed was the RSF’s former headquarters in Al-Saliha, as well as on the streets of the strategic suburb located south of Omdurman.

Local sources reported that the army’s advance came after intense battles with RSF fighters. In addition to Al-Saliha, the army reportedly recaptured key areas including the Wad Bakrawi station, the Al-Qiaa district, and the central Al-Saliha market. 

The latest developments come amid a brutal conflict that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary RSF, plunging the country into a devastating civil war.

The conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, with over 28,000 deaths and nearly 13 million displaced individuals. Efforts to form a new government continue, with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appointing an acting prime minister on April 30, 2025. However, the situation remains volatile, and the path to lasting peace remains uncertain.

By Sabina Mammadli