---
title: "Sudan army surrounds Khartoum airport and nearby areas, two military sources tell Reuters"
description: "DUBAI, March 26 (Reuters) - The Sudanese army is encircling Khartoum airport and surrounding areas, two military sources told Reuters on Wednesday, marking another gain in its two-year-old war with a rival armed group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Sudan conflict"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-26-sudan-army-surrounds-khartoum-airport-and-nearby-areas-two-military-sources-tell-reuters/"
published: "2025-03-26T12:35:44"
updated: "2025-03-26T12:35:46"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 242
---

# Sudan army surrounds Khartoum airport and nearby areas, two military sources tell Reuters

> DUBAI, March 26 (Reuters) - The Sudanese army is encircling Khartoum airport and surrounding areas, two military sources told Reuters on Wednesday, marking another gain in its two-year-old war with a rival armed group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

By Reuters · Published 26 March 2025, 14:35 SAST · Updated 26 March 2025, 14:35 SAST

## Key points
- In a dramatic turn of events, Sudan's army has reclaimed the Tiba al-Hassanab camp, marking a significant shift in the power struggle against the RSF, as the country spirals deeper into a humanitarian crisis that even the U.N. describes as the world's largest—proving once again that when it comes to civil wars, territory is just a game of musical chairs with dire consequences.
- Sudan's army claims control of Tiba al-Hassanab camp, marking a significant gain against the RSF in Khartoum.
- Recent military successes include the seizure of the presidential palace, indicating a shift in the conflict's dynamics.
- The RSF is reportedly regrouping in southern Khartoum, preparing for withdrawal to Omdurman amid escalating violence.
- The UN labels the situation in Sudan as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with widespread famine and disease affecting millions.

## Content

Separately, Sudan's army said in a statement it had taken control of the Tiba al-Hassanab camp in Jabal Awliya, describing this as the RSF's main base in central Sudan and its last stronghold in Khartoum.

The army had long been on the back foot in a conflict that threatens to partition the country and has caused a humanitarian disaster. But it has recently made gains and has retaken territory from the RSF in the centre of the country.

The army seized control of the [presidential palace](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N3P3021&linkedFromStory=true) in downtown Khartoum on Friday.

Witnesses said on Wednesday that RSF had mainly stationed its forces in southern Khartoum to secure their withdrawal from the capital via bridges to the neighbouring city of Omdurman.

The U.N. calls the situation in Sudan the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with famine in several locations and disease across the country of 50 million people.

The war erupted [two years ago](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3Q40B4&linkedFromStory=true) as Sudan was planning a transition to democratic rule.

The army and RSF had joined forces after forcing Omar al-Bashir from power in 2019 and later in oustingthe civilian leadership.

But they had long been at odds, as Bashir developed Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and the RSF, which has its roots in Darfur's janjaweed militias, as a counterweight to the army, led by career officer Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

(Reporting by Khalid Abdulaziz and Tala Ramadan; Writing by Jana Choukeir; Editing by Toby Chopra and Frances Kerry)