The Sudanese army launched artillery and airstrikes in the capital, Khartoum, on Thursday as it seeks to recapture areas taken by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) early in the country's 17-month civil war.

Witnesses reported heavy shelling and fighting as army troops tried to cross bridges across the Nile connecting the three adjoining cities that make up the greater capital: Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri.

Sudan's long-running conflict

The offensive appears to be the army's first major attempt in months to regain parts of the capital controlled by the RSF.

Despite making some gains in Omdurman early this year, the army has been unable to dislodge the RSF troops embedded in other parts of the capital.

Sudan's current civil war broke out in April 2023 amid a power struggle between RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo and army chief Abdel-Fattah Burhan.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands, displaced more than 10 million and caused extreme hunger or famine in several parts of the country.

Sudan army chief tells UN he's 'committed' to peace efforts

The new offensive came as Burhan addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

In his speech, he called for the RSF to be designated a terrorist group, and said they were committing "ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, and genocide."

Burhan also accused "countries in the region" of providing the RSF with "financial support, mercenaries and political cover." He did not name the countries, but his government has repeatedly alleged that the United Arab Emirates is supplying arms.

Burhan said he was committed to pursuing peace and transitioning toward a civilian government, but he said the militias must also lay down their weapons and withdraw from the territory they currently occupy.  

"We in Sudan's government are ready to engage in any initiative that ends this war whenever this initiative supports national ownership of the solution and ends the occupation by the rebel militia of various regions," Burhan said. 

Following the speech, General Dagalo of the RSF said his faction was ready to implement a nationwide cease-fire and allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid. The comments were made in a recorded message addressed to the UN General Assembly.

Burhan's army and the RSF had jointly led a coup to depose the first democratic transition authority established in Sudan after strongman Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019.

tj,nm/rm (AFP, Reuters)