Battle of Khartoum (2023–2025)

Khartoum is the capital and largest city in Sudan, with over 5 million residents. The Khartoum metropolitan area is made up of three main areas: Khartoum, Omdurman to the northwest, on the west bank of the Nile, is the second most populous city in Sudan, and Khartoum North, colloquially known as Bahri, located north of Khartoum itself. While the Khartoum area has experienced civil unrest, violent protests and state repression, the area usually has been spared from warfare, with a major exception being the 2008 Omdurman attack by the Justice and Equality Movement during the War in Darfur. In 2013, the Janjaweed, a pro-Bashir militia composed predominantly of Arabs and notorious for their role in the Darfur genocide, was organized into the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces to fight rebels in the Nuba Mountains. The RSF is led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. The Sudanese government, aided by the RSF, shot at protesters, killing dozens of people over a period of several months in Khartoum and Omdurman. The deadliest incident was in Khartoum on 3 June, where Sudanese soldiers and the RSF killed over 100 civilians protesting the regime. Bashir was eventually overthrown, and a transitional civilian-military administration was put in place, with Abdalla Hamdok becoming the Prime Minister of Sudan and Abdel Fattah al-Burhan becoming the Commander in Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council. In 2021, Burhan, along with Hemedti, overthrew the civilian administration in the 2021 Sudanese coup d'état, cementing military rule over Sudan. By 2023, tensions between Burhan and Hemedti increased after Burhan's pressure to integrate the RSF into the Sudanese military, whereas Hemedti preferred autonomy for the RSF. On 13 April, rumors spread of RSF fighters mobilizing at bases in Khartoum and Merowe. These tensions came to a head on 15 April 2023, after RSF fighters attacked civilian and military sites across the nation, including Khartoum and Omdurman., where the first attacks were reported on 15 April 2023, was under RSF control until March 2025. == Outbreak of war ==

Initial attacks on Khartoum Airport and Omdurman, 15–17 April In the early hours of 15 April 2023, the Rapid Support Forces initiated a series of assaults on key installations in Khartoum, including the Khartoum International Airport. During the attack on the airport, the RSF reportedly fired on a Saudia airliner which was arriving at the airport, but no casualties were reported among the aircraft's passengers and crew. In the fighting at the Khartoum airport, two civilians were killed. The RSF also captured the presidential palace, the residence of former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, and attacked a military base. Hemedti claimed that the RSF controlled most of the city's government buildings; this was disputed by Burhan. RSF fighters stormed Burhan's residence as well on 15 April, attempting to assassinate him. Burhan and his bodyguards fought back, with a bodyguard later stating that Burhan himself picked up an AK-47 and shot at the RSF. Though Burhan escaped, over 30 of his bodyguards were killed in the clashes. The same day, several aerial attacks towards the RSF targets were conducted by the SAF. Users on Facebook Live and Twitter documented the Sudanese Air Force flying above the city, and striking the RSF targets. On 16 April, the Armed Forces claimed to have re-captured the presidential palace, a claim disputed by the RSF who posted a video on Twitter of their continued presence in the palace amidst ongoing fighting. The RSF also disputed claims that several other buildings had been captured by the Armed Forces. The Interior Ministry building was also said to have come under RSF occupation. That same day, the Forces of Freedom and Change stated that negotiations between Hemedti and Burhan had ceased. In a statement, Hemedti claimed to be fighting against Islamists, and championing himself as a leader of democracy. Students at other universities were forced to flee following attacks and clashes at their campuses. At the University of Khartoum, one student, Khalid al-Tageea, was buried on campus after being killed by a shell, as transporting his body was impossible. The Khartoum Teaching Hospital, one of the largest in the city, was besieged by the RSF. It shut down completely on 17 April along with the sister al-Shaab Teaching Hospital after sustaining damage from RSF shelling. On 16 April, General Yassir El Atta announced that all RSF camps in Khartoum were under SAF control, along with Port Sudan, El-Gadarif, and Kosti. This could not be independently verified at the time. However, new RSF camps popped up, such as in the All Saint's Cathedral on 17 April. International incidents and reactions On 17 April, the Sudanese government announced the closure of Sudan's airspace, initially limited solely to Khartoum. Aidan O'Hara, the European Union ambassador to Sudan, was assaulted at his Khartoum home where he had been sheltering. The EU declared the attack, "a gross violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention." The same day, a US diplomatic convoy was fired upon in an incident labeled as "reckless" by Antony Blinken. General al-Burhan declared the Rapid Support Forces a "rebel group", and ordered their nationwide dissolution. On 17 April, South Sudanese president Salva Kiir cancelled a planned trip to Khartoum due to the fighting. RSF forces also besieged and shelled a large hospital in the city. The World Food Programme also halted operations in the country. Omdurman A doctor in Omdurman stated the situation was hectic and everyone was seeking shelter. RSF forces laid siege to the Sudanese Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in the city, and began shelling places where SUNA broadcasts. Shelling continued throughout Omdurman on 16 April. Many airstrikes came from the Sudanese Air Force against RSF bases across the city. That same day, RSF forces managed to enter and capture the SUNA building, and began airing pro-RSF content. The RSF broadcasts ended on 17 April as clashes continued around the area. Despite pro-SAF media claiming that Sudanese forces recaptured the headquarters, the RSF posted a video confirming their continued control over it. In other areas of Omdurman, RSF forces claimed to have vacated their base in the city. Videos from the city showed a barracks with dozens of wounded RSF fighters sprawled out across a makeshift barracks. Clashes also broke out on both ends of the Halfaya Bridge, one of several that connects Omdurman to Khartoum. In the battles on Halfaya bridge, a hospital on Khartoum's side of the river was shelled. Locals stated that there were so many dead near the bridge, it was impossible to recover their bodies. The safest areas of Omdurman were allegedly the working-class neighborhoods. Of the twenty hospitals in Khartoum and Omdurman, 12 were forced to close by 18 April due to indiscriminate shelling targeting the hospitals. Locals in the Sabrin area of Omdurman stated many RSF fighters lay dead in the streets. While it was set to go in effect at 6pm, fighting was still ongoing around the military headquarters, and the Republican Palace. Residents of Bahri also stated that fighting was occurring in their neighborhood, and wounded civilians were trapped in their homes. Some residents were out and about, and humanitarian agencies stated it was still impossible to provide aid. The Khartoum State Ministry of Health stated that most medical facilities were on the verge of shutting down due to the crisis. Satellite images on 19 April showed several key sites in the Khartoum area shelled or destroyed. Observers determined that the army was controlling access to Khartoum and trying to cut off supply routes to RSF fighters. Witnesses said the army reinforcements were brought in from near the eastern border with Ethiopia. When another ceasefire was announced to begin at 18:00 local time, fighting was reported to have mostly subsided around Khartoum airport, but continued to be intense around the Presidential Palace, army headquarters, and in the Jabra neighborhood in western Khartoum, where houses belonging to Hemedti and his family were located. Fighting was reported to have continued several minutes after the start of the ceasefire. A Reuters reporter in Khartoum, stated that by 20 April, the main market in Bahri was burnt to the ground, and many buildings in the center of the city were destroyed or heavily damaged. Checkpoints by RSF fighters on blocks and the middle of city streets were frequent in Bahri and Omdurman, and civilian life was non-existent. Many residents fled to Port Sudan, Wad el-Madani, Chad, or Egypt. The RSF stated it repelled an SAF attack on positions in Omdurman on the morning of 20 April, claiming to have shot down two helicopters in the process. Fighting was also reported at the Sudanese Broadcasting Corporation headquarters in the city. RSF reinforcements approaching Khartoum from the west were blocked by Sudanese forces that same day. Despite the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire announced by both sides on 21 April, shelling and fighting still occurred in and around the General Command, the Republican Palace, and south of Khartoum International Airport. Clashes broke out again along the Qawmy Road, the one connecting Khartoum to Gezira which had fallen under RSF control the day prior. Fighting was also reported in al-Bagair, an industrial area on the western side of the Nile, along with airstrikes in Bahri. The fighting continued into 22 April, with heavy shelling reported in Ombda and Karari, north of Khartoum. Shelling from the Corps of Engineers in Ombada Mansoura killed six people. In central Khartoum, the fighting spread from the downtown to the neighborhoods of Hillat Hamad, Khojaly, and Arkaweet. The Republican Palace was also reportedly still a battleground. The al-Huda prison was attacked by the RSF sometime around 23 April, releasing all of the prisoners located at the facility, allegedly including former Sudanese president and war criminal Omar al-Bashir. Other notable convicts were serving time for perpetrating war crimes throughout the War in Darfur. The Qatari and French foreign ministries were also attacked and looted on 24 April, which the SAF accused the RSF of. A Sudanese-American journalist speaking to CNN stated that he and 29 others were sheltering in a building in downtown Khartoum, and were running low on all supplies, including food and water. Clashes continued around the area of the General Command and the Republican Palace. The WHO representative to Sudan stated that on 25 April, one side had seized control of a national health lab in Khartoum that held biological materials including polio, measles, and cholera isolates, and that the group had ejected all technicians. The WHO did not mention which side took control, although the lab was close to fighting between the RSF and SAF. The Sudanese Ministry of Health also stated that the medical system in the country had collapsed by 24 April. International evacuation efforts Around 100 US special forces flew from Djibouti on 22 April and evacuated the American embassy in Khartoum. The UK, Germany, and other nations also began the initial stages of evacuating diplomats from the city. That same day, Sudanese spokesperson Nabil Abdallah announced Jordanian, Hungarian, and other nationals all were evacuated. Saudi and Dutch nationals were also in the process of being evacuated. French evacuation efforts were hindered after a convoy of French diplomats came under fire in the city. China, the Philippines, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Libya, India, Russia, Australia, and Japan all were in the process of evacuating their nationals, either from Khartoum or other cities like Port Sudan. Uganda evacuated 300 Ugandan nationals from Khartoum to the Ethiopian city of Gondar by 24 April. The RSF also attacked Kober prison in Bahri the same day, where many putschists from the 1989 Sudanese coup d'état were imprisoned, but the attack failed, and the SAF took control of the prison. In the aftermath of the ceasefire, Khartoum residents also stated that gangs were stealing from abandoned or damaged houses, and threatening residents. Clashes on 27 April were centered in several localities, despite claims by Sudanese and RSF officials that the Eid al-Fitr ceasefire would be extended starting that day. On Tuti Island, a neighborhood in Khartoum where the Blue and White Nile converge, sporadic clashes occurred. Locals also mentioned a resurgence in fighting near the General Command, the Republican Palace, east of the Khartoum International Airport, the Kafouri neighborhood of Bahri, and parts of Omdurman. In Kafouri, much of the fighting came from Sudanese air force bombing RSF targets in the neighborhood. The Sudanese Army also deployed the Central Reserve Forces, a police force in Sudan, to Khartoum to help the SAF on the ground. The RSF claimed a group of CRF in al-Shajara had also defected to their side. The El Baraha hospital in Bahri was bombed on 29 April, bringing the total of bombed hospitals since 15 to 16 April in the Khartoum area, and 19 other hospitals stormed and converted to military bases by the RSF. The Sharg El Nil Hospital in Khartoum, one of the largest in Khartoum, was raided by the RSF days prior and converted into a military base. The army, along with the CRF, launched an offensive in southern Khartoum, claiming to have secured territory from the RSF. By 1 May, only one hospital of the 86 in the Khartoum area was able to work at maximum capacity. The RSF also consolidated control over Sharq En Nil hospital, which they stormed a few days prior. Water and electricity to Khartoum's El Kalakla neighborhood were also cut off. Asia Abdelmajid, one of Sudan's first actresses, was killed in Bahri on 4 May. That same day, the RSF claimed to have control over 90% of the "three cities", although this claim couldn't be confirmed at the time. Both sides agreed to a tentative ceasefire and humanitarian corridors later in the day. A tentative nationwide ceasefire was announced as well. Clashes also continued around the Republican Palace and along Airport Street in Khartoum. On 8 May, the Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Minnawi faction that was stationed in Omdurman deployed to El Fasher to protect civilians from fighting in the Battle of El Fasher. By 8 May 481 civilians had been killed and over 2,560 wounded in the Khartoum area since fighting began. On 9 May, the RSF accused the SAF of launching an airstrike that destroyed the Old Republican Palace. These claims were denied by the SAF. Pictures sent to the BBC by a Khartoum resident appeared to contradict the RSF's claims of the destruction of the old Presidential Palace but showed the offices in the New Republican Palace appearing to have been severely damaged by a fire. Clashes also broke out along the Halfaya bridge. In Omdurman, the Libya Market was completely destroyed, and the El Mohada neighborhood was raided by the RSF. Residents stated that on 10 May, the RSF was in control of the Omdurman Maternity Hospital and El Morada, whereas the Sudanese Army controlled old Omdurman south of the area. Residents of Sharq en Nil fled the neighborhood, however, following rumors of an offensive by both sides against the neighborhood. The army claimed that no civilians were killed or injured in the attack. RSF fighters raided the headquarters of Sudanese newspaper El Hayat El Siyasi on 13 May, sparking condemnation by the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate. A large market in Omdurman was set ablaze the same day. A factory that produced a peanut paste employed by the WFP to combat malnutrition in Sudan was burned down by the clashes on 14 May. That same day, the El Azhari and Bur'i El Dereisa mosques in Khartoum were bombed, killing one worshipper. Attacks on the Jabra hospital also forced the patients there to move somewhere safer. The RSF also alleged that the SAF bombed the Kandahar Cattle Market in western Omdurman. On 16 May, the RSF claimed to have captured 700 Sudanese soldiers in an attack on a SAF base in al-Jalil neighborhood. Mar Girgis church attack Gunmen raided the Mar Girgis Coptic church in Omdurman on 14 May, demanding gold and money from worshippers. Witnesses stated that the gunmen wore mismatched RSF uniforms, and shot at worshippers and nuns, wounding five. They also claimed that the attackers called the worshippers slurs, and threatened the priest with a dagger. The officer of the head of the Coptic Church in Sudan, Bishop Sarabamon, was present but not recognized by the attackers. Many offices and rooms were destroyed. Burhan made his first appearance in Khartoum since the war broke out on 18 May, with videos emerging of him greeting SAF soldiers in the city. Later, Burhan appointed Malik Agar, former SPLM-N insurgent leader, to vide-deputy, and the Sudanese spokesman Shamseddin Kabbashi to his deputy in the battle of Khartoum. Lieutenant generals Yassir El Atta and Ibrahim Karima were both instated to deputy commanders-in-chief. Fighting flared up that same day and through 19 May in eastern Khartoum, with residents stating dead bodies of both combatants filled the streets after an airstrike on 30 RSF trucks. The SAF also began barricading southern Khartoum neighborhoods to protect from RSF attacks on SAF bases. The RSF tried to advance towards the Wadi Seidna Air Base, north of the capital on 21 May. RSF fighters in about 20 trucks positioned east of the Nile were trying to cross a bridge to reach the airfield, but were met by heavy artillery from the SAF. While the battle for Wadi Seidna airbase had been going on for several days, the RSF advance was the largest assault. == Jeddah ceasefire ==

On 20 May, the SAF and RSF signed a week-long, nationwide ceasefire at the culmination of the talks in Jeddah. The ceasefire was set to be implemented on 22 May, lasting until 29 May. Initially, the ceasefire worked, with all three cities being largely peaceful aside. Small skirmishes occurred in all three cities, but air raids stopped. As many as 229 people were declared missing on 22 May in Khartoum, with search and rescue efforts being made to find them through the ceasefire. Fighting occurred in El Mohandesin, Hamad El Nil, and El Rashideen, injuring several people. Despite this, humanitarian aid agencies increased efforts to rush supplies into Khartoum before wider fighting began. Clashes in Khartoum occurred in the neighborhoods of al-Quz, al-Rumaila, al-Hilla al-Jadida, and El Shajara. On 26 May, 50 babies and toddlers died due to malnutrition and circulatory failure after their orphanage ran out of supplies. The day was otherwise peaceful in Khartoum. As sporadic clashes erupted between 26 and 29 May, a resident of Omdurman told The Guardian, "Is there a ceasefire? There's none." due to fighting in her area. Shelling occurred in northwest Bahri, along the Halfaya bridge, between those three days. Civilian life in the ceasefire Civilians in Khartoum often had to steal to survive, as all goods and services were near impossible to come by. Resistance committees made up the brunt of humanitarian aid in neighborhoods with heavy fighting, like Jabra. In many areas, disease was prevalent due to the heavy amount of decaying bodies left untouched in the streets. Water was near impossible to come by, and residents boiled water from the Nile. Retrieving water often meant putting themselves at risk of being shot by snipers. Street gangs were also common, with poorer neighborhoods being targeted. Prices of house staples also rose exponentially, with flour doubling in price, sugar rising to 50,000 Sudanese pounds (SDG) from 32,000, and cooking oil rising from 23,000 SDG to 35,000 SDG. Jeddah ceasefire extension and the Battle of Taiba (29 May – 3 June) The Jeddah ceasefire was extended on 29 May for another five days. In the renewed ceasefire, the United Nations was able to complete the first round of food donations throughout the war-torn parts of Khartoum. However, on 30 May, the Libyan embassy was raided by alleged RSF fighters. No one was hurt in the raid, as all Libyan nationals were evacuated on 13 May. In the fighting on 30 May, several civilians were killed and injured in Bahri. In another incident, five civilians were killed at the Abu Bakr Siddig mosque in Bahri near the Shambat bridge, in either crossfire or shelling. On 31 May, the Sudanese Army announced its suspension of participation in peace talks, citing "repeated violations" of the ceasefire by the RSF. Despite this, the day was relatively quiet. The RSF stormed the offices of the El Midan newspaper in Khartoum, sparking condemnation from journalism organizations. That same day, shelling from the SAF-controlled neighborhood of El Shajara hit the relatively peaceful neighborhood of Mayo, where displaced Khartoum residents were seeking refuge. Twenty-seven civilians were killed in the attack, and over 106 were wounded. Clashes on 1 June broke out around the Taiba camp in southern Khartoum, which pro-RSF social media accounts referred to as "the battle of the Onion." The Taiba camp was originally a major RSF base, but was vacated in the early days of the war. Because of this, fighting mainly took place in the outskirts of the camp and the surrounding town of Jebel Awlia. On 1 June in Omdurman, clashes continued along the Mohandessin district, predominantly SAF air raids. El-Ghaba street in Khartoum was also a hotspot of violence, with Ombada and Hamad el-Nil also seeing fighting. The RSF captured the neighborhood of Al Nuzha on 2 June, along with consolidating control, over the al-Mogran neighborhood which they captured on 30 and 31 May. The RSF raided the National Museum of Sudan on 3 June, with videos emerging of parts of the museum being burned and artifacts being destroyed. Sudanese antiquities authorities reported that the RSF had vacated the museum by the next day, but the damage, combined with impending rains, threatened to destroy more of the museum. Ceasefire fails (4–9 June) Clashes intensified in the Khartoum area after the Jeddah ceasefire extension expired on 4 June. That same day, shelling at an IDP camp in eastern El Jereif neighborhood killed three people and injured five others. On 5 June, shelling towards the International University of Africa killed twenty-five Congolese students who were sheltering. The Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula accused the SAF of being behind the shelling. Shelling that day also occurred near the Army Corps of Engineers, an SAF base in Omdurman, the El Moweileh neighborhood in western Omdurman, and the RSF base in Salah. In Khartoum, shelling near El Sahafa neighborhood injured 16 civilians. Locals in the area stated the siege began on 30 May, and that due to a lack of food and supplies, the situation on the island was becoming a "humanitarian disaster." The RSF alleged that the factory was also a weapons storage area for the SAF. The clashes had spread from the neighborhoods of Jabra, al-Shajara, and Abu Adam, which were the epicenters of fighting in southern Khartoum. The Sudanese army launched airstrikes and shelling towards the factory and oil depots in the neighborhood nearby, setting the depots and munitions on fire. Analysts suggested that the attempts by the RSF to capture the Yarmouk factory and the oil depots were part of a wider goal to intensify their siege on the SAF Armored Corps base in al-Shajara. Others suggested that the RSF would attempt to attack Abu Adam and more of the neighborhood of al-Shajara. Following the battle of Yarmouk factory, SAF reinforcements arrived at the Armored Corps, but by 8 June, the RSF had already recaptured Yarmouk factory. In the neighborhood of Imtidad Nasir, the local resistance committee reported that three people were killed in an SAF air campaign. That same day, the remaining orphans at Mygoma orphanage were evacuated. As a result of a lack of supplies, 71 children died since the start of the battle. On the night of 7 June, five worshippers at a mosque in El Safya neighborhood of Bahri were killed by shelling. Clashes also continued around the Yarmouk factory. Civilians took matters into their own hands, burying bodies whenever possible. While some of the bodies have been documented, many are in unmarked graves in city streets, the floors of houses, and backyards. 9 June ceasefire The SAF and RSF held a 24-hour ceasefire on 9 June after continued mediation with the US and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. There were no reported clashes that day. The ceasefire failed by 10 June, when clashes broke out in the Haj Youssef area of Bahri. Shelling and fighting also occurred in southern and central Khartoum, along with the area around Shambat Bridge, as soon as the ceasefire expired at 06:00. As many as 2,800 civilians fled to Wad Madani during the ceasefire. The Sudanese Red Crescent society suspended operations in Khartoum following the end of the ceasefire on 10 June. SAF offensive and resumption of Jeddah talks (11–17 June) The SAF launched an offensive in several areas of the three cities on 11 June. The RSF also ambushed an SAF convoy between Haj Youssef and Kafouri. The SAF accused the RSF during the offensive of mixing in with civilians, and targeting civilian households in El Azhari and El Salama neighborhoods of southern Khartoum. The army also announced the death of Brigadier General Abdelrahman El Tayeb, who was killed during the battle for Halfaya Bridge. The SAF alleged that "dozens" of RSF were killed in the first stage of the offensive. Three people were killed in the Muzdalifa and Maygoma areas of Bahri on 11 and 12 June as well. Clashes also continued around Halfaya and the Wadi Sayyidna airbase. Some fighting was reported in the El Mohandesin area of Omdurman and El Shajara in Khartoum, but otherwise, the day was relatively calm. Ceasefire talks between the RSF and SAF began in Djibouti, mediated by National Congress Party officials from the former al-Bashir regime. == Second Jeddah ceasefire ==

On the morning of 17 June, an airstrike in Yarmouk killed over 30 people, including five children, and destroyed 25 homes. Later that day, a ceasefire resulting from the renewed talks in Jeddah was implemented, with a span of three days. The following day, 18 June, was relatively calm in the three cities. Analysts warned that the ceasefire would be beneficial for helping the RSF regroup and mobilize. Despite this, normal life continued in the streets of Khartoum, a change welcomed by several Sudanese political parties such as the Sudanese Congress Party (NCP) and National Umma Party (NUP). Malik Agar, the vice-president of the Sudanese transitional council, warned of the imminent failure of the ceasefire. The second day of the ceasefire also continued without incident. Homes occupied by the RSF were not vacated by the fighters, so some civilians were left homeless or forced to shelter with others. Expiry of the ceasefire The ceasefire expired on 21 June, with fighting erupting shortly before the deadline, and intensifying just 30 minutes afterward. The Fetihab, Um Badda al-Mansura, al-Doha, and Abbasia neighborhoods saw the most conflict in Omdurman. The RSF also launched attacks on the SAF-controlled Corps of Engineers, but with little success. The SAF also launched air raids in Mayo neighborhood of Khartoum, and Khartoum Stadium. The SAF also heavily shelled the Yarmouk area, which was still under RSF control. A statement released by the SAF alleged that the Central Reserve Police conducted a successful counterattack against the RSF in Khartoum and Omdurman. The RSF claimed that it had downed a Sudanese MiG fighter, and that the SAF shelling of Omdurman the day before had killed three families along with worshippers in a mosque. Videos also emerged of the SAF's 9th Airborne Division participating in the offensive, along with the SAF still in control of the medical area north of the General Command despite recent RSF attacks. Battle of the Central Reserve Police Headquarters ( 25–27 June) The RSF claimed the capture of the Central Reserve Police force headquarters on 25 June. The group later released videos of captured ammo boxes, and claimed the capture of dozens of vehicles and tanks. The SAF denied these claims, stating that the RSF attacks failed, although on 26 June they acknowledged the RSF's capture of the base. At least 14 civilians were killed in the fighting since the ceasefire, and 217 more were injured. The fall of the base cut off SAF supply lines to the SAF base in El Shajara, along with the capture of the de facto headquarters of the Interior Minister of Sudan and chief of police since 15 April. The RSF released 125 captured SAF soldiers during the truce announcement, following mediation with the Red Cross. Despite this, SAF air raids hit Omdurman on 28 June. One air raid in particular was deafening, although the source was unknown. Civilians speaking to Al Jazeera stated that the air raids targeted newly-formed groups of RSF fighters in southern Omdurman. Halfaya Bridge was targeted as well. On 1 July, RSF fighters killed a medical worker at a hospital in Aldroshab, Khartoum North. The attack was a retaliation by Janjaweed and the RSF after a wounded commander they brought into the hospital died of his injuries. At the end of the ceasefire, the RSF had been geolocated to be in control of several areas of Khartoum. The most notable locations were Manshia Bridge, the El Shajara gas deposits and refining facilities, the Republican Palace, and a presence in front of the SAF-controlled General Intelligence headquarters. == Siege of Alia Hospital, El Mohandesin garrison and more ==

The ceasefire expired on 2 July, leading to a massive RSF assault on an SAF base. In the attack, the RSF claimed the capture of five SAF soldiers. The RSF also began besieging the Alia Military Hospital, which was where Omar al-Bashir and other former NCP officials were believed to be located. The El Mohandesin garrison, which had been under siege since April, was also subjected to heavy bombardment by the RSF. The RSF claimed to have shot down a Sudanese fighter jet as well. == Rest of 2023 (July to December) ==

July 2023 Between 22 and 31 people were killed in an SAF airstrike on the Dar es Salaam district of Omdurman on 8 July. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack. On 13 July 34 civilians were killed in during artillery duels in the city. They were reportedly killed when the Sudanese army shelled a market in Omdurman. Three neighbourhoods of the city were shelled. August 2023 On 8 August, clashes broke out in the Abrof neighborhood of Omdurman between the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Army. Bombardment of the city has destroyed much of the old city. There were reports for gravediggers in the city to bury the dead in large mass graves. On 20 August, an armoured corps base in El Mohandesin was attacked by the Rapid Support Forces. September 2023 On 5 September, Sudanese Army shelling reportedly killed at least 32 people in the Ombada neighbourhood. On 7 September, this was confirmed by the Sudanese lawyers group. On 17 September, the Greater Nile Petroleum Oil Company Tower caught fire. November 2023 On 11 November 2023, the Shambat Bridge was destroyed amid intense fighting. December 2023 – January 2024 On 6 December 2023, it was reported that the Rapid Support Forces destroyed the al-Jili Refinery, the largest oil refinery in Sudan which is located in Bahri (Khartoum North). On the same day both sides exchanged accusations of one another and on 24 December 2023 both sides once again accused each other, the General of the Sudanese Army, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stated "The rebel militia today caused a fire in some facilities of the Khartoum refinery in al-Jili, as a result of its destruction of the refinery's control units." The Rapid Support Forces later claimed that the Sudanese Armed Forces were the perpetrators of the attack, which was proven false later on by sources. == 2024 ==

February–March The SAF gained ground in Omdurman in February, linking up their forces in the northern part of the city and relieving a 10-month siege of their forces in the city centre. The Omdurman front is the only area in Sudan where the SAF has carried out a sustained offensive operation, and represents its first major breakthrough of the war. As of 19 February 2024, the RSF remains in control of large parts of western and southern Omdurman. On 12 March, the Sudanese Army claimed control of the national broadcasting building in the neighborhood of Old Omdurman in Omdurman from the Rapid Support Forces. On 14 March, it was reported that the Sudanese Armed Forces had taken more of Omdurman after a bloody offensive and it was later reported that clashes had occurred once more. On the same day the Sudanese Armed Forces reported that they had captured 14 South Sudanese and 3 Chadian mercenaries within Omdurman and captured a bridge. On 28 March, Minni Minnawi announced that his forces would fight alongside the army in order to recapture the city and help in the army's growing offensive on the western part of Omdurman which they were later successful at. April During April, the battle remained primarily stable with reports of deaths caused by starvation across the area. May On 2 May, Khartoum State declared a state of emergency which was approved by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. On 19 May 2024 a video emerged of the RSF executing Mohamed Siddiq, a famous lieutenant in Sudan who gained prominence during the 2019 Sudanese Revolution. Real conflict only began in Khartoum again on 31 May when large clashes within Khartoum erupted. It was reported that the Sudanese Armed Forces had crossed a bridge which connected Omdurman and Khartoum North and entered into the city. Violence continued in the area of Khartoum with large shelling on 7 June 2024 by the Rapid Support Forces killing at least 40 people in Omdurman. On 22 June 2024, the Rapid Support Forces accused the Sudanese Armed Forces of bombing the Bahri thermal power station that caused a huge fire. July By 2 July, the SAF recaptured the Doha neighborhood. August On 2 August, two people were killed and 13 were injured by shelling on the Central Market in Khartoum. On 4 August 2024, the SAF seized control of the Mansoura area and the western and northern fronts of the Engineer Corps. 2024 Autumn offensive (26 September – 30 November) After a period of relative calm in terms of the battle, on 26 September the SAF launched a major offensive to retake Khartoum. Air raids on RSF positions began at 2:00AM, followed by the army securing three main bridges, including the two that connect Omdurman with the capital. Heavy fighting was reported at the presidential palace, as well as several RSF compounds and facilities across the city. Heavy fighting was also reported at the Arab Market, the army's General Command headquarters, and near the army's Signal Corps south of Khartoum Bahri. It was also reported that army forces are simultaneously attacking Singa while performing air-strikes on Gezira State. The offensive has allowed formerly encircled and besieged SAF units in Northern Khartoum to link up with and be relieved by SAF units in the rest of the city. In Khartoum, SAF secured its positions after crossing the bridges, and fighting continued in Mogran. By 2 October Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was personally overseeing the offensive from front-line positions between Omdurman and the Kadru military zone only leaving to visit the 3rd Infantry Division in Shendi following an attack on their base by RSF drones. Simultaneously the SAF where fighting to secure the Khartoum oil refinery in al-Jaili. The bombing was strongly denounced by the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Turkey, however, the SAF responded that it had never bombed the building and that "The armed forces do not carry out these cowardly acts and do not violate international law but target areas where the militia is present and that is within its right to defend the Sudanese nation." The National Umma Party denounced the executions, and the Beja Congress Party accused the al-Bara' ibn Malik Battalion of being the unit responsible. The RSF has only evacuated selected families with ties to the RSF. December 2024: Khartoum North (Bahri) offensive On 7 December, it was reported that the RSF retreated from al-Safiya and areas in Shambat. By 12 December, the SAF seized full over the district of al-Samrab. The army used drones and warplanes in the offensive leading to the RSF withdrawal to the Kafouri district, east of al-Samrab. On the 14th, the Sudanese army pushed towards the al-Azba district, seizing neighborhoods and later the Sudanese Air Force bombed RSF locations in Bahri. The attacks by the Sudanese army began to intensify on 18 December when the army launched a surprise attack on Bahri. On 23 December, the Sudanese army was reported to have pushed deeper into Khartoum North, advancing closer to the signal base which was reported to only be 4 kilometers to link the SAF troops. == 2025 ==

January / February On 7 January, the Sudanese army had made progress in Omdurman. It was reported that the RSF only remained in control in the Western part of Umbada and the remaining SAF in control of several other neighborhoods. The army also pushed into Southern Omdurman in addition to freeing three army officers. On 24 January, the Sudanese army had broken a months-long siege on its General Command headquarters in central Khartoum and retaken the strategic al-Jili Oil refinery in Bahri, marking significant gains against the RSF after more than a year of war. The SAF took full control of Bahri on 17 February. March: SAF recapture of Khartoum The SAF took control of East Nile on 3 March, reaching the al-Manshiya bridge connecting the city to Khartoum across the Blue Nile. On 20 March, the SAF had advanced to within 500 meters of the Presidential Palace, tightening its grip. On the next day, SAF had confirmed its control over the Presidential Palace. On 25 March, the SAF took control of Khartoum International Airport, after RSF forces retreated after SAF forces came closer to Jabal Awliya, which was RSF's last point of connection with Khartoum. The SAF subsequently took control of the Tiba al-Hassanab camp in Jabal Awliya, which was described as the RSF's last stronghold in Khartoum and its main base in central Sudan. On 26 March, the chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced at the presidential palace that the SAF had taken control of the city, stating that "Khartoum is free." Later that day, The SAF also announced full control of the al-Manshiya Bridge and that it surrounded Jabal Awliya, towards which the RSF were reportedly retreating while they were still in control of the Jabal Awliya Bridge. Later, all bridges connecting the capital were stated to have been captured by the SAF, as well as the Jabal Awliya area. The RSF commented that its forces had not retreated, but only repositioned. On the same day, the RSF announced a military alliance with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North. 4 days later, the SAF then took control of the Libya Market in Omdurman, addressed by Nabil Abdallah. April / May: SAF final offensive On 3 April, Hemedti threatened to invade cities in Northern Sudan, as a response to army advances in re-occupying almost the entirety of the Butana. On 8 April, the SAF captured parts of Ombada. On the same day, the Egyptian intelligence chief and the Sudanese president met after army gains, discussing repairing key bridges and dams. On 20 May, the SAF took full control over Ombada and the rest of Omdurman, bringing an end to fighting in the Khartoum State. On the same day, it was announced that the RSF forces had also been expelled from the neighboring White Nile State, with RSF forces retreating into North Kordofan State. The RSF and its ally Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) were at the time present in 5 Darfur and the 3 Kordofan states (with the exception of limited pockets held by the SPLM-N and the RSF in Blue Nile State). ==Foreign involvement==

Ukraine On 19 September 2023, CNN reported that it was "likely" that Ukrainian special forces were behind a series of drone strikes and a ground operation directed against the Wagner Group-backed RSF near Khartoum on 8 September. United Arab Emirates The New York Times detailed how the UAE established logistical networks to supply the RSF through countries like Chad, Libya, and South Sudan, disguising weapons shipments as humanitarian aid. == Humanitarian impact ==

Civilian evacuations and warnings Hours after the clashes began, evacuation orders were issued for civilians, politicians, and embassy workers. The US Embassy in Sudan urged US citizens in Sudan to seek shelter, as no plan of evacuation had been detailed. The Sudanese Air Force advised the millions of citizens to seek shelter immediately or stay at home. On 16 April 2023, a water crisis emerged in Khartoum, which worsened after the RSF urged civilians to evacuate the city. On 21 April, Indonesia evacuated 43 of its citizens to its embassy in Khartoum after an Indonesian citizen was injured by a bullet. On 23 April, the United States managed to evacuate fewer than 100 of its citizens from Khartoum by three Chinook helicopters which landed near the US embassy. The operation included 100 US troops from the Navy SEALs and Army Special Forces who flew from Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti to Ethiopia and then into Sudan. On the same day, the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines announced the suspension of all flights to Sudan to ensure the safety of its citizens and raised alerts to level 3 after a Filipino had been hit by a stray bullet in Khartoum. The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation was used as shelter for civilians. In June, nearly 180,000 civilians from the greater Khartoum area evacuated towards the Nuba Mountains, a scene of conflict between the Sudanese Army and Sudan People's Liberation Movement–North – al-Hilu faction. Three Indonesian citizens were evacuated on 21 June 2023, during the second Jeddah ceasefire. Civilian deaths As of June 2024, the death toll estimation is over 61,000 deaths. with 38 more deaths later reported during clashes in the city. Many civilians had been killed in the battle during looting by the RSF. On 26 June 2023, the African Union issued a call to demilitarize Khartoum. Rape Doctors in Sudanese hospitals reported a drastic increase in rape reports during the battle, especially in Bahri. The houses of Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees were also targeted. Due to the fighting, much of central and downtown Khartoum was destroyed. This included historic and residential areas. Items from the National Museum of Sudan's collection were also looted, with some of them being taken to South Sudan, western Sudan and border areas. ==See also==