Written By Lisa Murimi
Sudan’s military has initiated a significant offensive against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, as the nation’s civil war escalates.
In early morning strikes on Thursday, government forces bombarded RSF bases in Khartoum and Bahri, aiming to retake areas lost at the start of the conflict in April 2023.
The civil war has devastated Sudan, with the UN estimating up to 150,000 deaths and over 10 million people displaced, representing one-fifth of the population.
The fighting has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to the UN.
Witnesses reported intense fighting, with government troops crossing key bridges over the River Nile, marking the army’s first major push in months to regain control of areas dominated by the RSF .
Most of the capital has remained under paramilitary control since the war began.
The UN has urgently called for civilian protection and an end to the violence, as famine, cholera outbreaks, and fears of genocide in Darfur continue to mount.
Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, amid mounting international concerns
