The Sudanese army said in a statement: "We have completed the cleansing of the capital, Khartoum, from rebels," adding: "Today, we announce the complete cleansing of the entire state of Khartoum from any presence of Rapid Support Forces militia members."
Earlier on Tuesday, army spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah said in an official statement that "our forces continue to crush the militia south and west of Omdurman, and are continuing to cleanse the Salha area and its surroundings." He added that "the large-scale military operation is ongoing, and we are close to cleansing the entire state of Khartoum."
He explained that the army has intensified its raids on Rapid Support Forces paramilitary positions across Khartoum state since Monday, noting that air and artillery attacks are targeting what he described as "militia hideouts" wherever they may be located.
The Saliha area, located south of Omdurman, is one of the most prominent strongholds of the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary in the capital and has been witnessing fierce fighting with advancing army units for days.
In recent weeks, government forces have made significant progress, extending their control over most areas of Khartoum State, with the exception of areas west and south of Omdurman.
In a parallel context, the UN expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan, Radhouane Nouicer, expressed deep concern about the recent escalation in drone strikes and the expansion of fighting into the Red Sea State in eastern Sudan, exacerbating the suffering of civilians.
In a statement issued Monday, Nuwaiser warned that repeated attacks on vital infrastructure threaten civilian lives, exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, and undermine basic human rights. He pointed to widespread power outages and their impact on fuel supplies and essential services such as food, water, and healthcare.
The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been waging a war since mid-April 2023, resulting in the deaths of more than 20,000 people and the displacement of nearly 15 million, according to estimates by the United Nations and local authorities. Recent research by American universities indicates that the death toll may be as high as 130,000.
For weeks now, the Rapid Support Forces' control over Sudan's states has been rapidly shrinking in favor of the army. The latter's victories have expanded in the capital, Khartoum, including the seizure of the presidential palace, the surrounding ministries, the airport, and security and military headquarters.
In Sudan's other 17 states, the Rapid Support Forces now control only parts of North Kordofan and West Kordofan states, pockets in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, and four states in Darfur.
