Sudan army claims control of RSF base, key bridge section

KHARTOUM – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced Wednesday it has regained control of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) base in Taiba Hassanat, as well as a strategic section of the Manshia Bridge and the Al Bageir military base, the army spokesman said.

The SAF said it had secured the western entrance of the Manshia Bridge, having taken control of its eastern side in early March. The bridge is a key crossing point between Khartoum and East Nile localities.

“By the grace and success of God, our forces have been able to fully secure control over the western side of the Manshia Bridge. Additionally, the Baqir area has been cleared,” SAF spokesman Nabil Abdalla said in a statement posted on the army’s Facebook page.

The SAF also claimed control of the RSF base in Taiba Hassanat, southwest of Khartoum. Videos circulating on social media showed SAF soldiers and militia commander Abu Aqla Keikel at the location.

The army further confirmed it had retaken control of its 1^st infantry brigade at Al Bageir, a military base located in Al Jazira State, which fell to the RSF in the early hours of April 15, 2023, when the civil war broke out.

Al Bageir is situated to the south of the Soba bridge, which is controlled on the eastern entrance by the SAF and by the RSF on the western entrance.

Geolocation of videos shared by SAF combatants indicated the army also controlled areas in Buri, northeast of Khartoum, confirming SAF control of Khartoum International Airport and the immediate eastern surroundings.

These advances follow the SAF’s recapture of the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum last Friday, where the RSF suffered significant losses during an attempted retreat to areas south of Khartoum.