Sudan’s military forces have successfully captured the Republican Palace in Khartoum from the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) amidst ongoing battles that have persisted for nearly two years. The Republican Palace, heavily fortified and encircled by government offices, signifies a critical symbolic victory for the military, although it does not mark the decisive end of the conflict. The RSF still maintains a stronghold in Sudan’s western Darfur region and other areas.
Videos circulating on social media depict Sudanese soldiers within the palace, aligning the event with the 21st day of Ramadan, which fell on a Friday. In the footage, a military officer with the rank of captain proclaims their presence in the compound. The scenes reveal a devastated palace, with soldiers maneuvering over shattered tiles, armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, shouting “God is the greatest!”
Sudan’s Information Minister, Khaled al-Aiser, announced the capture on a social platform, declaring the palace reclaimed and the military’s campaign ongoing until full victory is achieved. Later, local residents wandered through the compound, observing bullet-riddled walls and discovering bodies shrouded in blankets.
Seizing the Republican Palace, a significant complex along the Nile River that holds historical and governmental importance, marks a pivotal strategic success for the Sudanese army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan. The RSF, under Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, appears largely expelled from Khartoum, although sporadic gunfire echoed across the city. The military controls the palace and surrounding districts, including ministry buildings and the Arab Market.
Despite the RSF’s control of the Khartoum International Airport since the conflict began in April 2023, Suleiman Sandal, an RSF-affiliated politician, acknowledged the military’s takeover of the palace, labeling it a historical fluctuation. The RSF claims its forces continue to fight nearby and reportedly launched a drone attack resulting in the deaths of troops and journalists. Meanwhile, the RSF claimed to have captured al-Maliha, a significant location in North Darfur, although the military has not confirmed this loss.
The humanitarian consequences of Sudan’s ongoing conflict are severe, with the United Nations identifying it as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The looting of food supplies intended for malnourished children by RSF forces at a hospital near Khartoum exacerbates the situation further. UNICEF highlights blocked commercial supplies and essential goods, leading to severe shortages affecting civilians trapped in battle zones.
The war has resulted in over 28,000 deaths, with millions displaced, some resorting to consuming grass amidst widespread famine. The Republican Palace, dating back to British colonization, was a historic seat of power and saw the early national flags hoisted in 1956.
Sudan has encountered years of unrest, notably after the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and the subsequent military coup led by Burhan and Dagalo in 2021. This instigated the current conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s military forces, escalating civilian casualties and unrest. Allegations of human rights abuses have surfaced against both parties, with international entities accusing the RSF of genocide-like activities. Both sides deny any wrongdoing amidst the ongoing struggle.
