Sudan’s military leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has visited the presidential palace in the capital, Khartoum, after landing at the city’s international airport, just hours after it was recaptured by the army. Surrounded by cheering soldiers at the venue – a significant symbol of absolute power and sovereignty – Burhan declared: “Khartoum is free”. Earlier, an army commander told the BBC that his troops had fully secured the airport and might be able to clear the rest of the RSF fighters by the end of the day. The army has been moving swiftly since recapturing the presidential palace on Friday and seizing state institutions taken by the RSF. The RSF had controlled most of Khartoum since the war began in April 2023. Nationwide, hundreds of thousands have been killed, and millions have been forced to flee their homes. An army spokesperson also told the BBC that troops had seized Manshiya Bridge, the last RSF-held bridge, along with a military camp in Jebel Awliya, the group’s stronghold in southern Khartoum. He said the army had now recaptured all the bridges across the River Nile that connect the three cities which make up Greater Khartoum. Residents have been reporting this week that RSF fighters were retreating southwards, apparently towards Jebel Awliya, the only place they could still cross out of the area. Videos posted on social media appeared to show some people in central Khartoum celebrating the army’s advance after what many have described as a brutal RSF occupation. Those unwilling or unable to leave have consistently reported mass looting by the RSF, whose fighters took over civilian homes. Khartoum is one of the areas of the country the UN said was nearing famine conditions, because of looted markets and restrictions on aid by both sides. Rights groups have also documented sexual violence and other abuses.
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