Report – Talal Ismail
Awaiting zero hour, several battalions within the Sudanese army are preparing to advance towards the city of Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State, and parts of Khartoum State. The liberation of the two states from the grip of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia is imminent, according to military sources and eyewitnesses who spoke to Al-Muhaggig and preferred to remain anonymous.
With the flow of weapons and ammunition into Sudan through several entry points from friendly countries, the position of the Sudanese army has improved since the outbreak of the war in mid-April last year.
As the war marks its first anniversary, approaching on the 25th of the month of Ramadan, anticipation builds up for the end of the war and putting off the rebellion that has expanded from Khartoum State to other states in Kordofan and Darfur. A field source in the old Omdurman axis confirms that the Sudanese army has tightened its control over most city neighbourhoods. However, neighbourhoods such as Abu Roaf, Beit al-Mal, and Al-Malazmeen remain under siege, with the radio and television headquarters besieged.
It was noted that civilians, including prisoners, are among those in these neighbourhoods being used by the RSF as human shields. Over the past two weeks, the Sudanese army has intensified its qualitative operations by deploying forces from North Khartoum by river and from the Hatab military base east of Khartoum, in addition to the presence of military battalions in the city of Fao, in Al Qadarif State. From Sennar State, they are heading towards areas south of Gezira State. A third brigade is heading west from the Al Managil area towards Gezira State.
These brigades include tens of thousands of Sudanese army soldiers, along with the Anti-Terrorism Organization of the General Intelligence Agency, police forces, fighters from the Reserve and Pension Administration, in addition to soldiers from armed movements in Darfur and Blue Nile who openly support the army.
On Wednesday, the Governor of Gezira State, Taher Ibrahim Al-Khair, urged the state’s citizens to return to their homes and areas soon, stating, ‘God willing, we expect to observe Ramadan fasting in the state.’ The governor also urged citizens to report collaborators with the RSF.
Eyewitnesses reported that shipments of high-quality weapons flowed into Sudan through specialised ports, significantly impacting military operations and shifting the balance in favour of the Sudanese army.
Military experts, speaking to Al-Muhaggig, noted that when the war broke out, the RSF initially outnumbered and unleashed unprecedented firepower against the Sudanese army in urban warfare. However, with the Sudanese army adopting defensive tactics and occasionally withdrawing, coupled with the superiority of air power, the equation shifted. For the first time, the army began employing offensive tactics, advancing and deploying military bases in recaptured areas.
The number of RSF militia soldiers decreased significantly, and in some areas, those who joined the militia lacked weapon proficiency and war tactics. Experts believe that the appearance of videos showing the RSF in some areas of Darfur urging their soldiers through loudspeakers to report to their camps is evidence of their weakening power.
The question by citizens who have borne the brunt of this war remains: will the coming Ramadan witness its end?
