The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has claimed its first major advance in 10 months of conflict, regaining control of part of the city of Omdurman from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The army said late on Friday it had succeeded in connecting its two main bases in the city, prompting celebrations among soldiers and local residents.
It is reported that the SAF in the Karari military area, north of Omdurman, have joined their peers in the engineering corps in the south of the city, where they have been besieged by the RSF since April.
Last week, the SAF announced they had entered the Souq Omdurman – one of the country’s oldest markets – in Omdurman, which lies on the opposite side of the Nile River.
The RSF however denied the military had advanced.
“The army has turned to propaganda as it is on the verge of defeat,” RSF media office said in a statement.
The RSF has been fighting the army for control of Sudan since April 2023. The conflict led to the deaths of thousands of people so far and sparked a humanitarian disaster.
Soon after war broke out, the RSF took control of most of the capital Khartoum, its sister cities Bahri and Omdurman, and most of the territory in the Darfur region.
Despite a two-week internet blackout, images emerged from the city of Omdurman showing civilians and soldiers celebrating.