The radio and television headquarters was the scene of extensive military operations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which was used as a military barracks (communication sites)

Khartoum -

After about 11 months of fighting in the Sudanese capital, the army regained control of the radio and television headquarters in Omdurman from the Rapid Support Forces, in a battle that observers considered a turning point in the course of the war, because of its military and psychological impact.

The radio and television headquarters is located in the east of the city of Omdurman, the second largest city in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, where it was guarded by the Rapid Support Forces before the war began in mid-April. The building overlooks the Nile River and is adjacent to the National Theater. It also houses the headquarters of the Blue Nile Channel, which It is jointly owned by the government and a private company.

The northern gate of the radio and television building faces the house of the former prime minister and leader of the late Umma Party, Sadiq al-Mahdi, and the Rapid Support Forces used it as a warehouse for weapons and military equipment. The Radio and Television headquarters also remained the scene of expanded military operations between the two sides of the armed conflict, as the Rapid Support Forces used it as a military barracks and a detention site. Civilian and military prisoners, while the army constantly targeted the site with heavy artillery and aviation.

With the restoration of the radio and television headquarters, the Sudanese army has completed its control over the old neighborhoods of Omdurman, and has expanded south from the “Kariri locality” north of Omdurman, which remained safe and shelters a large number of citizens who were displaced to it from the south and west of the city, and is occupied by the governor of Khartoum State, Ahmed Othman. Hamzah is the seat of his government.

Rapid support combat vehicles destroyed by the Sudanese army west of the radio and television building (military media)

Battle details

A military official in the army operations room told Al Jazeera Net that "the Rapid Support militia was using the radio and television building as a command and control center, and established large military commands there, who were supervising the Omdurman region."

The same spokesman explains, “After the army advanced in the old Omdurman region, regained control over the majority of the region, and tightened the noose on the Rapid Support, some of their leaders withdrew in their combat vehicles to the radio building, and the army could have destroyed it above their heads, but the building contains a historical archive and rare recordings.” .

The military official - who requested to remain anonymous - reveals that “the militia leadership tried to deceive the army when it informed the International Committee of the Red Cross that it had prisoners in the radio building, and was ready to hand them over on the condition that they be allowed a safe withdrawal, and the army agreed to receive any prisoner on the condition that the forces surrender before Let him out."

The same official adds, “The forces attempted to launch a military operation in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with more than 120 vehicles across two roads, but more than 80 vehicles were destroyed with 7 drones, missiles, and foot forces, and about 40 vehicles were seized with their weapons and equipment, which led to the death and injury of more.” Of 200 militants, including prominent field commanders close to the Rapid Support Commander, Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo - Hemedti - and his deputy, Abdel Rahim Dagalo.

The military official stated, “The radio battle revealed that the militia forces were suffering from a shortage of ammunition, and were affected by the absence of their leadership, the lack of communication with them, and the failure to pay their wages since last August. They were in poor morale, and they believed that their leadership had pushed them into the Holocaust, and had not been able to supply or rescue them yet.” They were besieged for weeks."

He believes that "the support command was interested in the radio battle, and in the old Omdurman region, and sent two military groups from Darfur led by their commander in the state of South Darfur, Saleh al-Futi, but he was unable to do anything, and they were defeated and they fled the battlefield."

He added, "After completing control over the old Omdurman region and securing the entire Karari locality, what remained before them were the Umm Baddah neighborhoods in the west of Omdurman, the cities of Al-Bustan and Al-Nakhil, and the Al-Fatihab and Salha neighborhoods in its south. Their liberation will lead to a resolution of 70% of the battle for the capital in its three cities."

Two Sudanese army soldiers shed tears of joy over the victory in Omdurman (military media)

An important victory

For its part, the Sudanese army announced its control of the headquarters of the General Authority for Radio and Television, after fierce battles it led against the Rapid Support, in which a huge military force was destroyed that was planning to escape from the headquarters, which remained under siege for several weeks.

The army spokesman's statement said, "Your armed forces, other regular forces, and the people of our country who work side by side with them, were able today to seize the headquarters of the National Radio and Television Authority, the memory and conscience of the Sudanese nation, from the desecration of the Al-Daglo terrorist militia, and mercenaries from other countries."

Sudanese army and military media platforms broadcast video clips and pictures showing the army taking control of the radio and television headquarters, destroying dozens of rapid support vehicles and seizing others. Some of the forces’ militants also appeared running away from artillery shells and bombs fired by drones.

The army also seized drone jamming devices and anti-aircraft guns, which were used by Rapid Support fighters holed up in the building. A video clip showed the commander of the Omdurman Military District, Major General Al-Dhafer Abdel Rahman, raising the Sudanese flag at the main gate of the building, amid cheers and cheers from his forces.

The Rapid Support Forces had previously captured the city of Wad Madani without significant resistance from (French) government forces.

Admission of defeat

On the other hand, the advisor to the Rapid Support Forces, Imran Abdullah, acknowledged the loss of the radio and television building, and said through his account on the “X” platform that “the Rapid Support Forces lost the radio and did not lose the entire battle,” due to what he called “the army’s violation of the Ramadan truce,” which it approved. The UN Security Council last week stated that the Rapid Support Command adhered to the Security Council resolution “in order to create conditions for civilians to fast the holy month, and to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian aid.”

The advisor added, “The army and its successors, the National Congress Brigades, disavowed this covenant and moral commitment, and betrayed the Rapid Support Forces and attacked them in the radio axis, despite their prior commitment to a ceasefire.” He added, “Thus, the forces did not lose the entire battle, and in return they gained their respect before the people.” Sudanese and the international and regional community.”

Political analyst and editor-in-chief of Al-Tayyar newspaper, Othman Mirghani, believes that the Sudanese army’s control of the radio and television headquarters is considered “a new turning point in the course of the war.” He said that he believes that “the army succeeded in achieving a major military victory, raising the morale of the citizens before the soldiers, and regaining the confidence that “I was shaken by the easy withdrawal from the city of Madani, the capital of Jazira State, in mid-December.”

He added in his interview with Al Jazeera Net, "In my estimation, now is the beginning of the end for military battles, and the biggest battle is still the political battle, which requires looking wisely at the future of Sudan." He stressed the necessity of starting a political phase to prepare for the post-war period, by forming a civilian government and building state institutions.

Source: Al Jazeera