Conflicting Reports on (RSF)’ Control of Al-Nuhud City
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) renewed their shelling this Friday morning on the Sudanese army forces at the Republican Palace in central Khartoum, and also bombed El-Obeid in North Kordofan. Meanwhile, conflicting reports emerged regarding control over Al-Nuhud, the temporary administrative capital of West Kordofan State.
A military source told Al Jazeera that RSF launched artillery shelling from the Salha neighborhood south of Omdurman, targeting the Republican Palace area in central Khartoum, causing no casualties.
On Thursday, RSF had already targeted the Republican Palace with long-range artillery fire from Salha, which also hit the Ministry of Minerals in the government district of the capital.
Separately, a military source told Al Jazeera that an RSF drone bombed El-Obeid in western North Kordofan late Thursday night.
Eyewitnesses in El-Obeid told Al Jazeera they saw plumes of smoke rising from a military site belonging to the army after the drone strike.
Conflicting Reports
RSF spokesman Al-Fateh Qurashi claimed that their forces had taken control of Al-Nuhud, one of the largest cities in West Kordofan State in southern Sudan.
In a recorded video in front of the local government headquarters, he stated that RSF was in the process of taking control of all cities in the state.
Conversely, a senior military source in the Sudanese army said RSF had entered part of Al-Nuhud but confirmed that the army garrison was still holding out.
Heavy clashes broke out Thursday between the Sudanese army and RSF in Al-Nuhud, the temporary administrative capital of West Kordofan.
The army had been in control of Al-Nuhud, after RSF took control of its capital, Al-Tibouna, in July 2024.
Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and RSF have been engaged in a war that has left more than 20,000 people dead and around 15 million displaced or refugees, according to the UN and local authorities. However, U.S. university research estimates the death toll at about 130,000.
In recent weeks, RSF-held territory across Sudan has rapidly shrunk in favor of the army, which has expanded its gains in Khartoum, including retaking the Republican Palace, government ministries, the airport, and key security and military facilities.
In the other 17 Sudanese states, RSF now controls only parts of North and West Kordofan, pockets in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and parts of four Darfur states.
Continued RSF Attacks
On Thursday, RSF militias again targeted the Republican Palace in central Khartoum with long-range artillery.
Agence France-Presse quoted a military source as saying the shelling came from Salha, south of Omdurman, and also struck the Ministry of Minerals in the government zone.
Earlier that same day, the Sudanese army announced that RSF was attacking Al-Nuhud in West Kordofan and had also targeted an army division headquarters in White Nile State, killing four civilians in artillery strikes on El-Fasher, where displaced populations are already suffering.
An army source reported that RSF launched the attack on Al-Nuhud with over 300 combat vehicles in the early hours of the morning.
The military said its forces, with allied units, repelled the RSF attack on Al-Nuhud and that fighting continues in the northern axis of the city, where the army maintains control.
Military sources told Al Jazeera that RSF drones also targeted the Sudanese army’s 18th Division headquarters in White Nile State, southern Sudan.
The drones struck the army command in Kosti with more than three missiles, causing explosions near the base.
Today, the Sudanese army also announced that four civilians were killed and nine others injured in heavy RSF artillery shelling on El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur in western Sudan.
The army’s 6th Infantry Division in El-Fasher stated that RSF had heavily bombed several neighborhoods on Wednesday, causing civilian casualties and injuries, with the wounded being taken to hospitals for treatment.
The statement added that army forces managed to cut RSF supply lines, destroy five combat vehicles, seize three others, destroy a mortar, and kill 10 RSF members.
On the other hand, RSF claimed in videos that its forces advanced into southern neighborhoods of El-Fasher and took control of several areas, adding that they are determined to achieve victory and are also advancing in the northern axis of the city.
In recent days, RSF has intensified its attacks on El-Fasher in an apparent bid to seize the city, according to the Sudanese army and local human rights organizations.
Since May 10, 2024, El-Fasher has witnessed clashes between the army and RSF, despite international warnings about the dangers of fighting in the city, which serves as a hub for humanitarian operations across all five Darfur states.
These developments follow a prolonged RSF assault on Zamzam IDP camp in El-Fasher, which lasted several days.
On April 13, RSF announced it had taken control of the camp after fierce clashes with the army, resulting in 400 deaths and over 400,000 displaced, according to the UN.
