KHARTOUM — The Sudanese army announced late Thursday that it had cleared the last pockets of resistance from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum Governorate, declaring a key battlefield victory in the ongoing civil war.

“Today, our forces successfully cleared the last pockets of the terrorist RSF militia in Khartoum Governorate by force and with determination,” the army said in a statement.

The military dismissed RSF claims that the withdrawal from Khartoum was part of an agreement with the government, calling them “rumors” and denying the existence of any such deal. The RSF has not issued a response to the army's announcement.

On Wednesday, Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared the capital "free" after government forces expelled RSF fighters from the city.

In recent weeks, the RSF has lost significant ground across multiple regions, including Khartoum, Al-Jazira, White Nile, North Kordofan, Sennar, and Blue Nile states, as the army has advanced on several fronts.

The war between the army and the RSF began in April 2023 and has since led to catastrophic consequences. According to the United Nations and local authorities, more than 20,000 people have been killed and 14 million displaced. Independent research from US universities estimates the death toll to be as high as 130,000.

The conflict has now spread to 13 of Sudan’s 18 states, prompting urgent calls from the international community and the United Nations for a ceasefire amid warnings of an escalating humanitarian disaster. Millions are facing famine and death due to widespread food shortages and the collapse of basic services. — Agencies