Sudanese army tightens grip on RSF in central Khartoum

February 14, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese army has intensified its offensive against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in central Khartoum, conducting battles in Sayed Abdel Rahman Street and heavily shelling the vicinity of the Republican Palace, witnesses said on Friday.

Residents in Khartoum Bahri, speaking to Sudan Tribune, reported intense army shelling targeting RSF gatherings. They described hearing loud explosions followed by smoke rising from around the palace, located on the southern bank of the Blue Nile opposite Khartoum Bahri. Witnesses speculated that drones carried out the shelling.

The army also used heavy artillery to target RSF positions near the Souq Arabi market, where clashes erupted between the two forces near the presidential palace.

Fighting between the army and the RSF has been ongoing in the Sudanese capital since mid-April 2023. Residents in the old districts of Omdurman reported hearing heavy and light weapons fire, as well as explosions from central Khartoum.

The army targeted RSF snipers in the Zitouna Hospital in Sayed Abdel Rahman Street, near the army’s general headquarters in central Khartoum. The army’s attacking forces launched their operation from the headquarters.

The army is reportedly advancing on several fronts to reach the Republican Palace, which has been under RSF control since the start of the conflict.

The army also used heavy artillery to shell RSF positions in Khartoum and East Nile from its bases in Omdurman. Smoke was seen rising from the area around the Soba Bridge, which connects Khartoum with East Nile.

Army units are deployed around the capital on the Jiyad axis south of Khartoum, the Soba axis east of the capital, the army axis that extends from the armoured corps “southwest” to the industrial area, and the Mugran axis west of central Khartoum.

The army’s general headquarters has become a focal point of military operations supported by the signal corps south of Khartoum Bahri, the weapons corps in Al-Kadru north of Khartoum Bahri, and the Wadi Sidna base north of Omdurman.