Figure 1: Map of Omdurman, Khartoum
لقراءة المقال بالعربية
On 16 February 2024, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) broke the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) siege on the Corps of Engineers military base in Omdurman, Khartoum. The RSF took control of the base at the start of the conflict in April 2023.
As well as breaking the siege on the Corps of Engineers, Sudan Witness verified two videos indicating that the SAF gained further ground in Omdurman in February.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, The RSF imposed a siege on the SAF’s Engineers Corps in the south of Omdurman, Khartoum, at the start of the conflict in April 2023. Sudan War Monitor verified that the SAF broke this siege on 16 February 2024 and successfully established a corridor through Al Arbaeen Street and Arda Street (figure 2).
In doing so, the SAF corridor effectively isolated some RSF groups in neighbourhoods located on the bank of the Nile in Omdurman, including Al Sharafia, Abu Rof, Beit Al Mal, Al Mulazmin (where the RSF occupies Sudan TV & Radio HQ), and Al Mawrada, effectively separating them from RSF forces further west (figure 2). Based on the analysis of two new videos from 25 February, Sudan Witness assessed that the SAF started advancing into at least two of these neighbourhoods, gaining further ground in Omdurman.
Figure 2: A map produced by Sudan War Monitor on 19 February 2024 corroborated with CIR analysis showing SAF (green) and RSF (red) areas of control in Omdurman, with the eastern RSF-controlled neighbourhoods now being encircled by the SAF. Sources: Google Earth and Sudan War Monitor
The first video, posted on X by a pro-SAF journalist on 25 February, shows two soldiers celebrating in front of a building. The soldiers state that they are at Abu Rof sports club and that the date of recording is 24 February 2024. Sudan Witness confirmed the video was filmed outside of the Abu Rof sports complex in the Abu Rof neighbourhood (figure 3), 4.4km north of the Corps of Engineers (figure 2). This signalled that the SAF successfully pushed south from the SAF-controlled Karari neighbourhood. A reverse search revealed that no versions of this video were uploaded prior to 25 February, suggesting that it was likely filmed on 24 February as stated in the footage.
Figure 3: Geolocation of two fighters celebrating outside the Abu Rof sports club, Omdurman, 24 February [15.656708,32.50134872] Sources: Google Earth and X
On the same day, 25 February, the official SAF X account posted a video showing a group of at least 20 people running away from an explosion. The description of the post states that the SAF carried out artillery operations in the area and that the men were part of the “terrorist rebel militia”, a phrase used by the SAF to describe the RSF. These claims could not be verified by Sudan Witness. However, Sudan Witness geolocated the footage to Nile Street in the Al Mulazmin neighbourhood, approximately 1.5km south of the Abu Rof sports complex (figure 2 and 4). A reverse search rendered no versions of the footage prior to 25 February 2024.
Figure 4: Geolocation showing shelling of individuals running southwards in Al Mulazmin, Omdurman [15.64089554,32.49866586] Sources: Google Earth and X
The newly established SAF corridor of control between the Corps of Engineers and SAF-controlled territory north of the Karari neighbourhood is likely to bolster the SAF’s logistical capabilities. For example, this will enable the SAF to easily re-supply and launch assaults on RSF positions from the Corps of Engineers. The victory may also boost SAF morale, with Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s visit to the base.