Sudan’s army has reclaimed control of the presidential palace in Khartoum after two years of RSF occupation, marking a critical development in the ongoing conflict. The recapture was announced alongside the seizure of key government buildings, yet the RSF has indicated that the battle continues, leading to concerns of further violence and displacement in the region.
The Sudanese army has successfully regained control of the presidential palace in Khartoum, which had been seized by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) two years prior. The announcement of the capture was made by the army-aligned government, following recent advances near the Blue Nile area. Khaled al-Aiser, Sudan’s information minister, celebrated the event on social media, stating, “Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete.” Social media footage depicted armed soldiers jubilantly celebrating within the palace grounds.
The RSF had taken over the palace complex, along with substantial parts of Khartoum, in April 2023 when the conflict with the army escalated. This forced Sudan’s government, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to relocate to Port Sudan. The palace complex itself comprises two significant buildings: the historic Ottoman-Egyptian republican palace, built in 1825, and a larger structure constructed by former leader Omar al-Bashir in 2015. The original building holds great historical significance, notably being the site where British Major-General Charles George Gordon was killed in 1885, marking the end of Ottoman-Egyptian control over Sudan.
After the palace’s recapture, the Sudanese army announced that it had also taken control of various ministries and essential buildings in central Khartoum. However, an unnamed source within the army reported that a drone strike attributed to the RSF subsequently killed three journalists, who were covering the events for state television. The RSF claimed to still hold positions near the palace, asserting that the conflict was ongoing.
Despite the army’s recent territorial gains in central Sudan, the RSF continues to exert influence in the western region of Darfur, where it has been accused of genocide against non-Arab groups. This allegation was corroborated by a report from the Raoul Wallenberg Centre released last year, and the United States has issued sanctions against RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemeti, as well as Burhan.
Concerns are mounting regarding the emergence of a parallel governance structure announced by RSF leaders last month in Kenya, reportedly with the support of the United Arab Emirates. Speculation about a potential division of Sudan into separate factions increases fears of a situation akin to that of Libya. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 10 million individuals being displaced and an alarming 12 million facing acute food insecurity, alongside thousands of casualties.
The recent capture of the presidential palace by Sudan’s army signals a critical shift in the ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces. While the army’s recovery of the palace and control over key government buildings marks a significant achievement, the RSF’s counteractions, including drone strikes and territorial consolidation in Darfur, underscore the continuing volatility in the region. The humanitarian crisis remains dire, affecting millions, as fears mount regarding the fragmentation of the nation.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
