On July 18th, local time, the Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bulhan, issued a command demanding that all combat forces and other armed organizations under the Sudanese Armed Forces withdraw from Khartoum, the capital of Khartoum State within two weeks. The order stated that the Sudanese government would establish a special committee to facilitate the return of displaced Sudanese citizens to Khartoum State. This committee is tasked with repairing infrastructure including roads and bridges while being authorized to take all necessary security measures to restore order, uphold the rule of law and national security. Withdrawing combat forces from Khartoum State is one of the initiatives outlined in this order.
Recently, residents of Khartoum State have reported that some members of the Sudanese Armed Forces and other armed groups have exploited the local security vacuum to commit crimes such as theft and robbery.
On April 15, 2023, armed clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the capital Khartoum, which then spread to other areas. The ongoing two-year armed conflict has resulted in nearly 30,000 deaths and over 12 million people displaced. On May 20 this year,
the Sudanese Armed Forces declared full control over Khartoum State, and the Rapid Support Forces have withdrawn from the entirety of the state. (CCTV Report by Zhao Fangyuan)