October 7, 2024 (KHARTOUM) – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has begun withdrawing from the East Nile district of Khartoum state as the Sudanese Army launched its first major ground offensive to retake control of the capital, Khartoum. Both sides are reportedly massing troops in Khartoum North, anticipating a decisive battle for control of the area. Since the outbreak of hostilities in mid-April 2023, the RSF has held central Khartoum and much of Khartoum Bahri. Elite RSF units, equipped with sophisticated weaponry, have been heavily entrenched in East Nile since capturing the district in the war’s initial weeks. However, witnesses in East Nile told Sudan Tribune that RSF’s presence in the area’s streets, markets, and cafes has dwindled significantly. They also reported a sharp increase in airstrikes by the Sudanese Air Force targeting RSF positions. The army’s ground operation, launched on September 26, marks its first significant attempt to retake Khartoum, aside from a brief operation in March to secure the state broadcasting headquarters and neighbourhoods in Old Omdurman. A previous limited offensive in late May to dislodge the RSF from the Halfaya Bridge, linking northern Omdurman to northern Khartoum Bahri, ended in defeat for the army. But since last …

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