Sebastian Usher

All this amid new reports that Egypt is trying to revive the ceasefire in a proposal that would see five living hostages released in exchange for an extended pause in the fighting.

All this amid new reports that Egypt is trying to revive the ceasefire in a proposal that would see five living hostages released in exchange for an extended pause in the fighting.

Sudan's army is preparing the ground for a final push on Khartoum. Shallowing positions of the RSF... In recent weeks, troops have retaken districts on the outskirts of the city, squeezing the remaining RSF fighters into the center. We're entering an area that was recently recaptured by the army, driving along dusty streets lined by houses that are mostly one story high, made of brick or cement.

Sudan's army is preparing the ground for a final push on Khartoum. Shallowing positions of the RSF... In recent weeks, troops have retaken districts on the outskirts of the city, squeezing the remaining RSF fighters into the center. We're entering an area that was recently recaptured by the army, driving along dusty streets lined by houses that are mostly one story high, made of brick or cement.

And as we pass by, there are women who open the doors, look out and wave politely.

And as we pass by, there are women who open the doors, look out and wave politely.

They were panicking, this woman tells me. But there's security now that the army's here. We were given the first raw accounts of what happened as RSF forces retreated. It was a shock. They came suddenly, says Intisar Adam Suleiman. They said they'd shoot anyone who's outside.

They were panicking, this woman tells me. But there's security now that the army's here. We were given the first raw accounts of what happened as RSF forces retreated. It was a shock. They came suddenly, says Intisar Adam Suleiman. They said they'd shoot anyone who's outside.

Her son Mozamel is sitting next to the house with neighbors, right where he sat just weeks ago with his brother and his friend. The RSF fighters ordered them inside, then shot them in the back as they entered the gate, killing both of them. A bullet went through Mozamel's leg.

Her son Mozamel is sitting next to the house with neighbors, right where he sat just weeks ago with his brother and his friend. The RSF fighters ordered them inside, then shot them in the back as they entered the gate, killing both of them. A bullet went through Mozamel's leg.

A few blocks away, I meet Asma Mubarak Abdelkarim. She was with a group of women confronted by retreating RSF soldiers who sprayed gunfire around them, then pulled one woman into an empty house and raped her.

A few blocks away, I meet Asma Mubarak Abdelkarim. She was with a group of women confronted by retreating RSF soldiers who sprayed gunfire around them, then pulled one woman into an empty house and raped her.

The RSF denied these reports, stressing that the army has carried out mass atrocities. Both sides are accused of war crimes. The neighborhood next door is an affluent suburb that was home to senior members of the RSF leadership. It's now eerily empty. We've arrived at the mansion where the deputy commander of the RSF, Abdul Rahim, was living. There's a big, empty swimming pool in the yard.

The RSF denied these reports, stressing that the army has carried out mass atrocities. Both sides are accused of war crimes. The neighborhood next door is an affluent suburb that was home to senior members of the RSF leadership. It's now eerily empty. We've arrived at the mansion where the deputy commander of the RSF, Abdul Rahim, was living. There's a big, empty swimming pool in the yard.

There are other empty houses around where RSF commanders were living. None as grand as this one, I don't think, but evidence that the top officials have moved on. The army says it believes that those still fighting for the heart of Khartoum are the junior commanders, the lower-ranking soldiers, and possibly foreign fighters.

There are other empty houses around where RSF commanders were living. None as grand as this one, I don't think, but evidence that the top officials have moved on. The army says it believes that those still fighting for the heart of Khartoum are the junior commanders, the lower-ranking soldiers, and possibly foreign fighters.

Behind them, the RSF forces left a trail of destruction. Zainab Osman Al-Haj shows me the wreckage of her house. They would come at night and break down the door. They stole everything in my house and then burned it, she says.

Behind them, the RSF forces left a trail of destruction. Zainab Osman Al-Haj shows me the wreckage of her house. They would come at night and break down the door. They stole everything in my house and then burned it, she says.

There was theft and stealing and robbery. Outside, we meet Hussein Abbas, returning even though the area is not completely secured. He's nearly 70 years old, walking with a cane. So how does it feel to come back now after so much has happened?

There was theft and stealing and robbery. Outside, we meet Hussein Abbas, returning even though the area is not completely secured. He's nearly 70 years old, walking with a cane. So how does it feel to come back now after so much has happened?