Sudan's army and its allies say that they are close to regaining full control of Khartoum, recording the most significant victory by far over the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since their war began nearly two years ago.

A lightning offensive has reversed months of setbacks for the government, while rebel discipline shows signs of fraying after nearly two years of civil war.

Residents of Sudan's capital Khartoum say the army has recaptured large parts of the city from RSF paramilitaries, marking its biggest victory in a year. "Shrapnel and stray ammunition are falling on my neighbourhood,

Sudanese army troops and allied militiamen were rapidly advancing in the capital on Wednesday, engaging the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in street combat in residential areas once home to hundreds of thousands of citizens before the war broke out 21 months ago.