Revealing the Latest Areas Under Rapid Support Forces Control in Khartoum

Report – Fath Al-Rahman Shabarqa

With the ongoing progress of Sudanese army operations on various battlefronts, and its recent success in fully securing areas such as Khartoum Bahri, East Nile, and Kadro after nearly two years of fighting, several strategic locations in the capital, Khartoum, remain under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

As the war in Sudan approaches a decisive phase, according to senior military officials who spoke to Al Jazeera Net, questions arise about the key areas where the RSF had previously expanded or maintained a presence within Khartoum State — areas that the army has yet to neutralize or regain control over.

Hot Zones

Based on its well-informed field sources, Al Jazeera Net reveals the key flashpoints likely to witness intense battles in the coming period. Below are insights into the main areas in Khartoum still under RSF control:

Around the Presidential Palace and Central Khartoum

Following the military operations conducted by the Sudanese army, the RSF’s presence in central Khartoum has shrunk significantly. It is now limited to the vicinity of the Presidential Palace and a number of buildings and government institutions located west of the University of Khartoum, extending toward the Martyrs Mosque in the Al-Muqrin area.

The RSF also holds parts of the Arab Market, ending south at the Jackson Station and the Freedom Bridge armored corps positions. Additionally, they control the Khartoum 2 and 3 triangle, parts of the Amarat neighborhood, and Street 61, where several military and administrative headquarters are located.

Sports City and Eastern Khartoum

In eastern Khartoum, the RSF maintains its largest concentration at the Sports City, where the first shot of the conflict was fired on the morning of April 15, 2023. It has since become a major storage site for looted civilian goods and is expected to be a key battlefield as the army pushes to reclaim the remaining parts of Khartoum.

Africa International University and Surrounding Neighborhoods

Africa International University remains one of the most important non-military institutions under RSF control. Once a beacon of education that enlightened many African and non-African nations, the university has been turned into a staging and storage site for RSF forces.

The RSF also maintains isolated presences in the neighborhoods of Al-Azhari, Mayo, and Al-Andalus, which are linked to the roads leading to Jabal Awliya. Other areas under RSF control include neighborhoods east of the army headquarters, such as Buri, Arkwit, Al-Ma’moura, and Street 60, extending westward to Soba and Al-Baqir.

Severe Siege on Tuti Island

On Tuti Island — a strategic location at the intersection of Omdurman, Khartoum, and Khartoum Bahri — the RSF imposes a harsh siege on the remaining residents, known for their deep attachment to their fertile land even during severe flood seasons.

Reports indicate that RSF forces have used Tuti’s green farms — once a key source of vegetables and fruits for Khartoum State — for combat operations, directing random artillery fire toward Omdurman, resulting in civilian casualties.

Facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical care, residents have been forced to pay large sums to leave the island, according to eyewitnesses. The RSF has reportedly used the remaining inhabitants as human shields, complicating the army’s efforts to target military positions there.

Southern Countryside and Jabal Awliya

In the southern outskirts of Omdurman, the RSF is present in the Saleha district, extending to the borders of North Kordofan State, where many villages and settlements are located.

The RSF controls the entire Jabal Awliya locality, including the Taiba Al-Hassanab camp — currently the largest RSF stronghold in Khartoum State — as well as the Central Reserve Camp, which they seized at the beginning of the conflict in 2023 and have held ever since.

Limited Presence in Western Omdurman

RSF presence in western Omdurman has shrunk to small pockets in areas such as Libya Market and the western neighborhoods of Ombada, from where they launch artillery strikes on residential areas in Al-Thawra district in Omdurman’s Karari locality.

Some reports suggest that drones targeting critical infrastructure in recent days were launched from western Omdurman. However, military sources have disputed this, claiming that the drones originate from outside Khartoum State — likely from Darfur and Kordofan — given that the drones used are strategic and long-range, capable of covering vast distances.

Areas Still Under RSF Control

The RSF’s continued control over these areas in Khartoum raises questions about why they remain resistant to army advances. However, military analysts believe that reclaiming these areas is now only a matter of time, despite the RSF’s possession of significant weapon stockpiles.

The army has imposed a near-total siege on these areas from the east, west, north, and south, particularly after liberating Gezira State, parts of Sennar State, the Al-Jaili Refinery, and Bahri and East Nile areas — leaving the RSF with limited room for maneuvering.

From both a theoretical and practical standpoint, there appear to be no areas in Khartoum State beyond the army’s reach. However, the nature of urban terrain and the complexities of street combat may either slow or accelerate the army’s efforts to secure complete control over Khartoum.

(Source: Al Jazeera Net)