Sudan’s army has reclaimed the presidential palace in Khartoum, a key strategic site that had been under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the outbreak of the civil war nearly two years ago.
This development comes amid intense fighting as government forces press forward with a series of offensives against the RSF utilizing advanced drone and artillery warfare to regain lost territory.
The battle for the capital has been one of the most brutal chapters in Sudan’s ongoing conflict and the palace’s recapture could signal a crucial shift in the war’s path.
Sudanese military launched an aggressive campaign in recent months making significant territorial gains against the RSF which had entrenched itself in key areas of Khartoum.
Reports indicate that government forces boosted by aerial strikes and sustained ground attacks mounted a decisive push to reclaim the palace forcing RSF fighters into retreat.
The use of heavy artillery fire and intense street battles as Sudanese soldiers stormed the heavily fortified compound.
Civilians living in the surrounding areas reported deafening explosions and gunfire throughout the night underscoring the fierceness of the military operation.
“It was the most intense fighting we’ve seen in months and entire city felt like it was shaking.”
The recapture of the presidential palace is not just a military victory but a symbolic one. The RSF’s seizure of the building in the early days of the war had been a humiliating blow to the army signaling the paramilitary group’s initial dominance in the conflict.
Its loss now serves as a morale booster for the military and its supporters potentially shifting the balance of power in Sudan’s prolonged struggle.
For the RSF, the defeat represents a major setback. The group led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, has been locked in a bitter power struggle with Sudan’s army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The conflict erupted in April 2023 after months of escalating tensions between the two factions turning Sudan’s capital into a battlefield and plunging the country into a devastating humanitarian crisis.
While the army’s victory is significant, the war is far from over. The RSF still controls vast areas of Khartoum and other strategic locations across Sudan.
Analysts warn that the paramilitary group is likely to regroup and launch counterattacks potentially prolonging the conflict further.
Meanwhile, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence with thousands killed and millions displaced since the war began.
The international community has repeatedly called for a ceasefire but diplomatic efforts have largely failed as both sides remain determined to assert dominance.
With the recapture of the palace, Sudan’s military may now have the upper hand but whether this will lead to meaningful progress toward peace remains uncertain.
For now, Sudanese citizens remain caught in the crossfire, hoping that this latest development will pave the way for stability in a nation that has endured far too much bloodshed.
