Conflicting reports surfaced on Friday regarding the alleged lifting of a siege on Sudan’s military headquarters in central Khartoum, amid ongoing fighting between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The RSF denied claims by the SAF that it had broken the siege, dismissing them as “propaganda” aimed at boosting morale. The Sudanese group accused the SAF of spreading “falsehoods” through fabricated videos, even as the SAF announced recent gains, including taking of Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazirah State—a strategic breakthrough.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left half the population facing severe hunger.
In a statement, the SAF claimed it had lifted the siege on its Signal Corps base in Khartoum Bahri, one of the city’s key military installations. The SAF said its forces then crossed the Nile to join troops in central Khartoum, who had also been under RSF siege.
If confirmed, this would mark a significant success for the army, which has struggled to counter the RSF’s stronghold over critical locations, including the SAF General Command, the Signal Corps base, and the Presidential Palace.
The RSF countered the SAF’s narrative, asserting it inflicted heavy losses on army troops across multiple battlefronts. The Sudanese force accused the SAF of engaging in a “longstanding pattern of disinformation.”
Violence Escalates in North Darfur
In a separate development, fierce clashes erupted in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, between the RSF and Joint Forces, including the SAF and allied Islamist groups.
The RSF has not commented on the El Fasher clashes, but both sides continue to accuse each other of receiving foreign support.
The UAE, often cited in such allegations, has denied providing military aid, emphasizing its focus on humanitarian assistance in Sudan.
UN Calls for Restraint
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict, urging all parties to exercise restraint.
In a Friday statement, the UN called on warring factions to avoid actions with severe economic or environmental repercussions and reiterated the need to protect civilians and infrastructure in compliance with international law.
“Sudanese women, children, and men are bearing the brunt of this relentless conflict,” Guterres said, urging an immediate and genuine dialogue to halt hostilities and alleviate civilian suffering.
The violence continues to ravage Sudan’s tri-city capital region—Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri—and exacerbates an already dire humanitarian crisis.