Sudan army ends two-year siege of key city

The Sudanese service says it has breached a adjacent two-year siege imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) connected the cardinal confederate authorities superior of el-Obeid.

The breakthrough came hours aft the RSF signed a governmental charter successful the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to found a breakaway authorities successful areas nether their control.

The RSF and the service person been successful a vicious combat for powerfulness since April 2023, which has killed tens of thousands of radical and forced millions from their homes.

The combat has divided the country, with the service controlling the northbound and the eastbound portion the RSF holds astir of Darfur portion successful the westbound and parts of the south.

El-Obeid, the superior of North Kordofan state, is simply a strategical hub connecting the capital, Khartoum, to Darfur. This is the latest service beforehand successful caller weeks pursuing the recapture of respective parts of Khartoum from the RSF.

There was jubilation connected the streets arsenic Sudanese soldiers marched into the city.

A subject spokesman, Nabil Abdallah, confirmed the gains successful a statement, saying service forces had destroyed RSF units.

Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim said the determination was a "massive step" successful lifting the RSF siege connected el-Fasher, the superior of North Darfur province, and would besides let the transportation of humanitarian assistance to Kordofan.

Sudanese civilian nine activistic Dallia Abdlemoniem told the BBC Newsday programme that the recapture of the metropolis " was "huge" and "significant".

She said the RSF had "held the civilians captive for astir 2 years" successful the city.

She said the service was "making superior groundwork successful presumption of moving towards the west, which is wherever the RSF is chiefly centred".

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Both the service and the RSF person been accused of committing sedate atrocities against civilians during the war, with their leaders being sanctioned by the US. In addition, RSF has been accused of carrying retired a genocide successful Darfur.

Both contradict the accusations.

Kenya's hosting of the RSF past week arsenic it sought to signifier a parallel authorities was criticised by immoderate quality rights groups.

On Sunday, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Youssef said his state would "not accept" immoderate state recognising "a alleged parallel government".

In response, Kenya's overseas ministry said determination was "no ulterior motive" successful "providing non-partisan platforms to struggle parties".