Sudan’s military has announced the retaking of the Republican Palace in Khartoum from rival paramilitary forces, marking a significant point in the ongoing conflict. Khaled al-Aiser, the Information Minister, confirmed the event via social media. The military’s victory reflects a wider pattern of advances against the RSF, amidst severe humanitarian crises and allegations of human rights abuses by both factions during the war.
Sudan’s military announced on Friday that it had successfully retaken the Republican Palace in Khartoum, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing conflict. This event occurs nearly two years post-outbreak of fighting between rival factions. Soldiers were witnessed entering the Palace, which appeared damaged, amid the sound of broken tiles beneath their boots and their chants of “God is the greatest!”.
In a statement on social media, Khaled al-Aiser, the Minister of Information, confirmed the palace’s reclamation and declared, “Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete.” The Republican Palace, an emblematic site by the Nile River, has now come under the control of the military, displacing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) largely from the capital.
The loss of the palace is viewed as both a symbolic and strategic victory for the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, amidst ongoing clashes that began in April 2023. Despite sporadic gunfire in Khartoum following the announcement, it remains uncertain whether these were confrontational or celebratory. The RSF’s response to this setback has yet to be disclosed, although they claim control over the strategic al-Maliha city in North Darfur, which is approximately 200 kilometers north of El Fasher, held by the military.
The humanitarian consequences of the conflict are dire, with over 28,000 fatalities reported and millions displaced, pushing some families to survive on grass amidst a looming famine. Historically, the Republican Palace served as a pivotal political site, hosting early independent symbols of Sudan in 1956 and acting as the central office for government officials. However, it has also been a target for military assaults in recent years.
Sudan has endured ongoing instability since the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019, which halted a brief democratic transition. Subsequent conflicts between Burhan’s forces and the RSF intensified in 2023, leading to significant civilian casualties, allegations of human rights abuses, and claims of genocide by the RSF against ethnic groups in the Darfur region, similar to earlier atrocities committed under al-Bashir’s regime. Both sides continue to deny these allegations, compounding the complexity of the conflict.
In conclusion, the Sudanese military’s recapture of the Republican Palace marks a critical development in the conflict that has ravaged the country for nearly two years. This victory not only holds strategic implications for control over Khartoum but also underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis, with thousands dead and millions displaced. As the conflict persists, calls for accountability regarding human rights abuses by both the military and the RSF remain paramount.
Original Source: www.haltonhillstoday.ca
