Five Pivotal Events in the Khartoum Conflict

The Sudanese military has reclaimed control of significant parts of Khartoum, the capital, from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group aiming to topple the internationally recognized government.

On Friday, army personnel celebrated and took photos at the war-damaged entrance of the presidential palace situated in the city center.

The conflict initiated in April 2023 when the RSF attacked Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) bases across the country, seizing large areas, including crucial portions of Khartoum and its airport.

The fighting has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, with millions displaced and many facing famine, leading the UN to label it as the most severe humanitarian crisis globally.

The BBC Verify team has been examining videos and images shared during the conflict, mainly by combatants, to document the army’s strategy to retake Khartoum.

Khartoum is uniquely positioned between the Blue and White Nile rivers, and the army’s efforts to regain control have been influenced significantly by this geographical layout.

The assault to reclaim the capital commenced earnestly on September 26 with air strikes launched by the army targeting areas controlled by the RSF in Khartoum.

In January, the onset of the dry season prompted renewed army offensives, strengthened by new alliances with Islamist groups and ethnic militias, leading to several strategic victories.

We have pinpointed video and images from pivotal instances during the campaign to retake the city.

The army headquarters in central Khartoum had been encircled by RSF forces for 21 months, isolating the soldiers from other advancing army units.

In late January, following military progress up north, the army managed to send reinforcements that broke through RSF lines and lifted the siege.

Verified social media footage dated January 25 captures soldiers celebrating within the army headquarters grounds.

The subsequent day, army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited the headquarters, declaring that his forces would “eliminate” the RSF and chase them throughout the country.