The Sudanese army announced on Tuesday that it has regained full control of Khartoum state, declaring it "completely free of rebels," in reference to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group locked in a violent conflict with the military since 2023.

The declaration, published by Sudan’s state news agency, follows a key turning point nearly two months ago when the army recaptured central Khartoum, including the presidential palace, marking a major symbolic and strategic victory.

Despite the military’s claim, fighting reportedly continued earlier on Tuesday in Omdurman, a city within Khartoum state and part of the capital region. The army had launched what it described as a “large-scale offensive” in Omdurman on Monday, according to AFP.

The RSF has not yet responded publicly to the army’s latest statement.

Khartoum, once the center of Sudan’s political power, fell under RSF control early in the war, forcing the country’s military leadership to relocate eastward to Port Sudan. That city, previously considered a haven from the violence, has recently come under threat, including a drone attack earlier this month which the army blames on the RSF.

The assault on Port Sudan damaged critical infrastructure, triggering widespread water shortages and extended blackouts, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.

The war’s impact extends beyond Sudan’s borders, straining international relations. Tensions have grown between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Sudanese officials accusing the Gulf state of backing the RSF and of being involved in the recent Port Sudan attacks—allegations the UAE firmly denies as “unfounded.”

Since the conflict began over two years ago, thousands of civilians have been killed and millions displaced, creating what the United Nations has called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Both the army and the RSF face accusations of war crimes, which each side denies.