October 2, 2024 (OMDURMAN) – Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has been stationed between Omdurman and the Kadru military zone north of Khartoum Bahri for five days, overseeing an offensive to retake the capital from rival paramilitary forces.
The army launched a major ground operation last Thursday, backed by air and artillery strikes, pushing across the White Nile bridges from Omdurman into Khartoum and securing a foothold in the Moqran district.
This advance allowed troops to cross the Halfaya Bridge from northern Omdurman, link up with forces in the Kadru military zone, and gain control of the Halfaya suburb. Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters retreated south to Shambat.
Burhan visited the 3rd Infantry Division in Shendi to assess operations hours after the RSF attacked the base with drones. Shendi is located around 150 km (93 miles) north of Khartoum.
Army and allied forces are also attempting to seize the Khartoum oil refinery in al-Jaili, about 70 km (43 miles) north of the capital. The refinery has been under RSF control since the conflict erupted in mid-April.
Burhan visited Kadru and the Hattab military base, marking his first appearance in the area since the war began. He also met with residents in the East Nile locality.
The Sovereign Council said Burhan has been inspecting the front lines for five days without specifying locations. Later, it reported that he visited intelligence service forces and civilians in Omdurman. Video footage showed him interacting with residents in the al-Thawra district.
A source close to the army told Sudan Tribune that Burhan will be closer to the operations around the refinery and other key fronts in Khartoum and Khartoum Bahri.
Securing the refinery would protect the army’s supply lines and enable it to retake Khartoum Bahri, linking up forces in Kadru and Hattab with those in the south of the city and breaking the siege of the army command headquarters in Khartoum, the source said.
Army troops who crossed into Khartoum have established positions in government buildings in Moqran, previously used by RSF snipers, and neutralized other sniper positions in the area, the source added.