Sudan’s military has tightened its grip on Khartoum, retaking significant government buildings just a day after securing control of the Republican Palace from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The intensified offensive marks a turning point in the ongoing two-year conflict that has threatened to divide the country.
Brig. Gen. Nabil Abdullah, spokesperson for the Sudanese army, announced that troops successfully expelled RSF fighters from the National Intelligence Service headquarters and the Corinthia Hotel in central Khartoum. Additionally, the army reclaimed the Central Bank of Sudan, along with several other government and educational institutions.
According to Abdullah, “hundreds of RSF fighters were killed while attempting to flee the capital,” though the RSF has yet to release an official statement regarding these claims.
The Sudanese army’s latest victories follow their full takeover of the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum on Friday, March 21. This development represents a crucial breakthrough in the military’s prolonged battle against the RSF, which had previously seized vast portions of the capital and maintained a firm hold over western Sudan.
The military’s recent successes come after a prolonged period in which the RSF had gained the upper hand, controlling key territories and establishing a parallel government in areas under its rule. Although the RSF’s governance efforts have not been recognized internationally, their hold on western Sudan remains firm.
Despite the army’s announcement of victory at the palace, the RSF stated shortly after that its fighters remained nearby and had launched an attack that resulted in dozens of military casualties.
Army sources later confirmed that RSF forces were positioned approximately 400 meters from the palace and had carried out a deadly drone strike that killed multiple soldiers, including three state television journalists. “We continue to fight, and our perseverance and spirit come from the Sudanese people and their support for the armed forces,” declared army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in a televised speech.
The RSF initially captured the presidential palace and much of Khartoum in April 2023, when war erupted over disputes regarding the paramilitary force’s integration into the national army. For many Sudanese civilians, the army’s reclaiming of the palace represents a long-awaited shift in the war.
“The liberation of the palace is the best news I’ve heard since the start of the war because it means the army is starting to control the rest of Khartoum. We want to be safe again and live without fear or hunger.”
Mohamed Ibrahim
Humanitarian Crisis and Continuing Violence
The conflict in Sudan has spiraled into what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. With famine spreading and diseases rampant in a nation of 50 million people, international organizations have called for an urgent resolution to the fighting.
Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have faced allegations of war crimes. The RSF, in particular, has been accused of genocide — charges that both factions vehemently deny.
As of Friday, sporadic gunfire continued to echo through the streets of Khartoum. Military officials have warned that fierce battles lie ahead as they attempt to push RSF forces out of the city completely.
“We are moving forward along all fighting axes until victory is complete by cleansing every inch of our country from the filth of this militia and its collaborators.”
Sudan’s Army
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, had earlier instructed his troops to maintain their position at the palace. However, analysts suggest that the RSF’s stronghold in Khartoum is now more precarious than at any point since the conflict began.
“Although the RSF still holds positions in Khartoum, its grip is weakening. If the current trajectory continues, it’s likely the RSF will be pushed out of the capital entirely.”
Ahmed Soliman, a senior research fellow at Chatham House
As both sides continue to engage in fierce battles, the outcome of Sudan’s war remains uncertain. However, with each new territorial gain, the military inches closer to consolidating its control and reshaping the nation’s future.
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