Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Sadiq Ali announced on Tuesday that a military operation to reclaim Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is set to commence soon.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Ali expressed optimism for imminent good news, stating that Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city, is almost entirely free of rebels.
He hopes for the liberation of the remaining areas of the city currently under rebel control, with the army preparing to take action shortly.
Ali also mentioned that the Sudanese authorities have no substantial objections to the establishment of a Russian naval base in the country, indicating that the agreements made by the previous government are binding on the state.
He suggested that the new Sudanese parliament, to be formed post-elections, will review the agreement with Russia regarding the naval base, leaving the decision to the elected parliament.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a warning about the severe risk of malnutrition facing hundreds of thousands of children in Sudan, as the ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.
In a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter), UNICEF emphasized that peace is what the children of Sudan need most at this moment. The organization, along with its partners, is providing life-saving nutrition and health packages to children and pregnant women.
United Nations reports indicate that the war in Sudan has left approximately 25 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid, including around 14 million children.
Unofficial estimates suggest that about 37% of Sudan’s population is experiencing a food security crisis, meaning that approximately 17.7 million people are suffering from acute hunger, according to Anadolu Agency.