The Sudanese army has announced that it has successfully recaptured Khartoum’s airport from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking another significant territorial gain in the ongoing civil war. Gen. Mohamed Abdel Rahman al-Bilawi stated that the troops have fully secured the airport and may be able to clear the remaining RSF fighters by the end of the day.
The army’s advances have been swift, following their recapture of the presidential palace on Friday. This has led to celebrations among civilians in the streets of Khartoum. For nearly two years, the RSF had controlled most of the capital since the war erupted in April 2023. The conflict has led to widespread devastation, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost and millions displaced.
In addition to retaking the airport, the Sudanese army also announced the seizure of Manshiya Bridge, the last RSF-controlled bridge in Khartoum, and a military camp in the RSF’s southern stronghold.
However, despite these gains, the war is far from over. The RSF still holds nearly all of the Darfur region in western Sudan. Earlier this week, reports indicated that Sudanese airstrikes had bombed a market in Darfur, killing dozens of civilians, highlighting the continuing toll of the conflict.