Sudan army launches bold offensive as humanitarian crisis deepens

Sudan army has initiated a major offensive against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeting key areas in the capital, Khartoum, that it lost at the onset of the conflict.

The dawn strikes on Thursday marked the government’s first significant push in months to reclaim territory, as aerial bombardments and ground fighting erupted across the city and its northern counterpart, Bahri.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal struggle for power between the army and the RSF, leading to what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. With up to 150,000 people killed and over 10 million displaced—about one-fifth of the country’s population—the toll of the conflict continues to rise.

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Witnesses reported intense fighting as government forces crossed two critical bridges over the River Nile, breaking the RSF’s stronghold over the capital. The army’s offensive comes on the heels of a scheduled address by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan at the UN General Assembly later on Thursday, where the international community is expected to demand urgent action to protect civilians and halt the bloodshed.

The UN has warned of the dire consequences of relentless hostilities, stating that “relentless hostilities across the country have brought misery to millions of civilians, triggering the world’s fastest-growing displacement crisis.” Alarmingly, half of the 10 million displaced individuals are children, with at least two million seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

As the fighting rages on, Sudan has been branded “the world’s largest hunger crisis.” Agricultural activities have come to a halt, heightening fears of widespread famine. Furthermore, there are growing concerns about the potential for genocide against non-Arabs in the western region of Darfur, where violence has escalated amidst the chaos.

Health issues are compounding the crisis, as a cholera epidemic sweeps through the country, resulting in over 430 deaths in the past month alone. Yet, the ongoing conflict makes it increasingly difficult to deliver necessary medical assistance to affected populations.

With the army’s renewed offensive against the RSF, the stakes have never been higher in Sudan. As international calls for a ceasefire grow louder, the urgent question remains: can the Sudanese people find relief amidst this escalating violence?