On 21 March 2025, the SAF achieved a landmark victory by capturing the heavily defended Presidential Palace in downtown Khartoum. The rest of Khartoum city, including neighbourhoods in the east of the city, fell soon afterward.500 At the end of March 2025, the SAF captured the Souk Libya market in Omdurman,501 an RSF logistics hub,502 and RSF admitted retreating from Khartoum city.503 By mid-May 2025, the SAF reportedly had driven the RSF from its remaining positions in Khartoum state,504 including Salha,505 south of Omdurman, and Ombada, west of Omdurman.506 In January 2026, Prime Minister Kamil Idris announced the return of the government to Khartoum.507 Following a period of relative calm,508 RSF drone strikes hit the international airport in Khartoum509 and military installations across the Greater Khartoum area in early May 2026510 and early July 2026.511 In June 2026512 and August 2026,513 RSF drones were intercepted by SAF over Khartoum.514 In connection with the May 2026 attack, Khartoum authorities accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of orchestrating drone strikes on the airport.515
In April 2026, Human Rights Watch mentioned abuses against men and women detained by the SAF, including in Khartoum.516 In July 2026, authorities launched a security operation in response to growing public concern over neighbourhood insecurity, theft, and illicit drug activity in several areas.517
- 500
Ayin Network et al., Sudan Conflict Monitor # 19, 28 April 2025, url, p. 3
- 501
Sudan Tribune, Sudan army recaptures key Omdurman market from RSF, 30 March 2025, url
- 502
Ayin Network et al., Sudan Conflict Monitor # 19, 28 April 2025, url, p. 3
- 503
France 24, Sudan's RSF paramilitary chief admits forces withdrew from Khartoum, 30 March 2025, url
- 504
UN Human Rights Council, Situation of human rights in the Sudan – Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, A/HRC/61/24, 13 January 2026, url, para. 10; AP, Sudan’s military says it took full control of Greater Khartoum region that includes the capital, 20 May 2025, url; RFI, Sudan army says Khartoum state 'completely free' of paramilitaries, 21 May 2025, url
- 505
Sudans Post, Sudanese military closes to breaking two-year siege of Dilling, 28 May 2025, url
- 506
RFI, Sudan army says Khartoum state 'completely free' of paramilitaries, 21 May 2025, url
- 507
Sudan Tribune, Sudan government returns to Khartoum after nearly three-year absence, 11 January 2026, url
- 508
BBC News, Sudan accuses Ethiopia and UAE of orchestrating drone attacks on airport, 6 May 2026, url
- 509
Sudan Human Rights Hub and STPT, Sudan Conflict Monitor # 27, 15 June 2026, url, p. 4
- 510
BBC News, Sudan accuses Ethiopia and UAE of orchestrating drone attacks on airport, 6 May 2026, url
- 511
AP, Drone strikes on civilian vehicles kill at least 20 in Sudan, rights groups say, 8 July 2026, url
- 512
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army air defences intercept RSF drones over Khartoum, 9 June 2026, url
- 513
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army repels RSF drone attacks on Khartoum for second day, 13 August 2026, url
- 514
Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army air defences intercept RSF drones over Khartoum, 9 June 2026, url; Sudan Tribune, Sudanese army repels RSF drone attacks on Khartoum for second day, 13 August 2026, url
- 515
BBC News, Sudan accuses Ethiopia and UAE of orchestrating drone attacks on airport, 6 May 2026, url
- 516
HRW, Sudan: Arbitrary Detention by Army, Security Forces, 7 April 2026, url
- 517
Sudan Tribune, Khartoum security crackdown nets thousands of suspects, 25 July 2026, url