Sudanese Army Recaptures Presidential Palace, Military Source Confirms

The Sudanese army has regained control of the presidential palace amid ongoing battles with rival forces, signaling a major shift in the country’s conflict.

Sudan’s military announced that it has reclaimed the Republican Palace in Khartoum, marking the recapture of the final stronghold held by rival paramilitary forces in the capital after almost two years of conflict.

Videos on social media depicted soldiers inside the compound, noting that it was the 21st day of Ramadan, which fell on a Friday. In these videos, a Sudanese military officer with captain’s epaulettes announced and verified that troops were indeed present within the compound.

The palace seemed partially in ruins as soldiers marched over shattered tiles, the crunch echoing beneath their boots. Armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, they chanted, “God is the greatest!”

Khaled al-Aiser, the Information Minister of Sudan, announced on the social platform X that the military had regained control of the palace.

He wrote, “Today the flag rises, the palace returns, and our journey continues until victory is achieved.”

The capture of the Republican Palace, a complex situated along the Nile River that once served as Sudan’s government headquarters before conflict broke out and is featured on banknotes and postage stamps, represents another victory for Sudan’s military. Under the leadership of army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, they have been making consistent progress in recent months.

This indicates that the rival Rapid Support Forces, led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been driven out of Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, following the outbreak of war in April 2023.

The group did not promptly recognize the loss, which probably won’t halt the conflict since the RSF and its allies continue to control territory in other parts of Sudan. On Thursday evening, the RSF announced it had taken over al-Maliha, a strategically important desert city in North Darfur. While Sudan’s military has confirmed that there is fighting around al-Maliha, they have not admitted to losing control of the city.

Al-Maliha is situated approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of El Fasher, a city that continues to be controlled by the Sudanese military despite almost daily attacks from the RSF.

The leader of the U.N. children’s agency stated that the conflict has resulted in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

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The conflict has resulted in over 28,000 deaths, displaced millions from their homes, and driven some families to eat grass as a means of survival amid widespread famine. Some estimates indicate the death toll could be significantly higher.

The Republican Palace served as the center of authority during Sudan’s British colonization. In 1956, it witnessed some of the first independent Sudanese flags being raised over the nation. Additionally, it functioned as the main office for Sudan’s president and other high-ranking officials.

The Sudanese military has consistently targeted the palace and its surrounding grounds, bombarding and firing upon the compound.

Sudan, located in northeastern Africa, has experienced instability since a popular uprising led to the ousting of its longtime autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The brief transition towards democracy was interrupted when Burhan and Dagalo orchestrated a military coup in 2021.

In 2023, the RSF and Sudan’s military initiated conflicts against one another.

Since the beginning of this year, Burhan’s forces—comprising Sudan’s military and allied militias—have progressively moved against the RSF. They regained control of a significant refinery located north of Khartoum and have also advanced on RSF positions surrounding the capital. This conflict has resulted in a rise in civilian casualties.

Al-Bashir is charged by the International Criminal Court for orchestrating a genocidal campaign in Darfur, located in western Sudan, during the early 2000s alongside the Janjaweed militia, which later evolved into what is now known as the RSF. Human rights organizations and the United Nations allege that once again ethnic African communities are being targeted by these allied Arab militias and their successors within this ongoing conflict.

Since the onset of the war, both the Sudanese military and the RSF have been accused of human rights abuses. Before U.S. President Joe Biden concluded his term, the State Department announced that the RSF was perpetrating genocide.

The military and the RSF have rejected claims of committing abuses.