Sudan’s Army Pushes RSF Out of Khartoum: Mixed Reactions Amid Escalating Crisis

Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, is witnessing a turning point in its brutal conflict as the Sudanese army makes significant advances against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While some civilians are celebrating the army’s progress, others remain fearful, warning that both sides are employing increasingly ruthless tactics, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

For months, Sudanese civilians have been caught in the crossfire of a devastating struggle for power between the army and the RSF. While the military’s latest victories in Omdurman and Khartoum North have driven RSF fighters out of occupied homes and strongholds, reports of atrocities, looting, and ethnic violence continue to surface.

The army’s siege of Khartoum’s central districts and the sprawling Sharq el-Nile region has exacerbated the suffering of civilians. Activists on the ground report that both the army and the RSF are guilty of war crimes, including targeted killings, looting, and systematic attacks on relief workers.

“The city is besieged,” said a local activist, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The only way out is westward to Darfur, but that route is under attack by army drones and fighter jets. Many families have died trying to escape.”

The conflict has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displacing 12.5 million people and leaving tens of thousands dead. According to human rights organizations, civilians originally from western and southern Sudan have become primary targets for both factions. The RSF has forcibly expelled indigenous communities and seized their homes, while the army has been accused of ethnic cleansing in the Gezira state and other contested areas.

As the army reclaims parts of the capital, some displaced residents are cautiously returning home, only to find their neighborhoods in ruins. Many homes have been looted, entire districts left without water, electricity, or internet access.

“We lost everything,” said Montasser, a relief worker in Omdurman. “The RSF took whatever they could before they fled. Even now, the army still has to clear corpses from the streets.”

However, fears of army reprisals remain high. Reports indicate that civilians perceived to have ties to western and southern Sudanese communities long marginalized within Sudan are facing harassment, violence, and, in some cases, execution.

“The fear is overwhelming,” said another activist. “People born and raised in Khartoum feel like they don’t belong here anymore.”

As the RSF withdraws from its urban strongholds, fighters have ramped up looting operations, targeting homes, markets, and relief organizations. Residents report armed men storming their houses, stealing cash, gold, and Starlink satellite devices used for internet access.

“They know we receive money from the Sudanese diaspora and aid agencies,” said Musab, a local relief worker. “Now they hunt us down, trying to force access to our accounts.”

Despite mounting allegations of war crimes, both the army and the RSF deny responsibility for human rights abuses. Army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah rejected reports of ethnic killings, insisting that the military remains committed to international laws of war.

As Sudan plunges deeper into chaos, the international community faces mounting pressure to intervene. With millions displaced and vital infrastructure decimated, humanitarian organizations warn that the worst is yet to come unless decisive action is taken.

For now, Khartoum remains a battlefield where no side holds the moral high ground. As civilians navigate the destruction left in the wake of military advances and RSF retreats, one thing remains clear: Sudan’s war is far from over.

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