The army, at war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, has in recent weeks mounted a fierce offensive to reclaim full control of the capital.

"Our forces are close to reaching the centre of Khartoum... and expelling the Daglo militia," a source in the army told AFP, referring to RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

"Our armoured forces are advancing from multiple axes," he added, requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

On Wednesday, the army said it had "cleared out" the neighbourhoods of al-Remila and the Industrial Area in central Khartoum -- only three kilometres (1.9 miles) from the RSF-held Republican Palace.

But eyewitnesses on Thursday said army troops had to make their way through RSF snipers posted on high-rises in what used to be Khartoum's business and government district.

The RSF did not respond to an AFP request for comment.

Further south, witnesses reported clashes between the army and the RSF around Soba Bridge -- a key southeastern entry point to the capital.

In recent weeks, the army has surged through the capital, breaking a nearly two-year siege by the RSF on its headquarters and pushing the paramilitary to the edges of Khartoum North, also known as Bahri.

The army's advance on the capital is its biggest victory in a year, since it regained Omdurman across the Nile River which, together with Khartoum North and the city centre, makes up greater Khartoum.

Since it erupted, the war has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted 12 million and pushed the country to the brink of famine.