Sudanese Army Reclaims Presidential Palace in Khartoum Amid Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis//
//Sudanese Army Reclaims Presidential Palace in Khartoum Amid Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis//
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| A Sudanese army spokesperson gives a statement on Sudan TV, after, according to the Sudanese army, they took the control of the presidential palace, at an unknown location, March 21, 2025. |
In a significant turn in Sudan's prolonged and devastating conflict, the Sudanese army has announced that it has seized full control of the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum. The event, confirmed in an official statement on Friday, marks a symbolic and strategic victory for the army in its two-year struggle against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict, which began in April 2023, has plunged Sudan into what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, displacing millions, spreading famine, and devastating a country of over 50 million people.
The battle for the presidential palace has been fiercely contested since the RSF rapidly took control of Khartoum at the onset of the war. However, recent months have seen the army regaining strength, gradually reclaiming critical territories in the center of the country. The victory at the palace is seen by many as not just a strategic gain, but also a morale boost for an army that had been on the defensive for much of the conflict. Videos released by the army show jubilant soldiers celebrating amid shattered glass and bullet-ridden walls, with the palace’s once-pristine façade marred by explosions.
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The Sudanese Army General Command building bears traces of artillery shelling in Khartoum, Sudan, January 26, 2025. |
Despite the army's announcement, the RSF claims the battle is far from over. Shortly after the army's statement, the RSF declared that its forces remained active near the palace and had launched an assault that resulted in dozens of army casualties. According to army sources, RSF fighters were positioned approximately 400 meters from the palace and had executed drone attacks that killed several soldiers and three state television journalists.
The RSF, under the leadership of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, has entrenched its power in western Sudan and is reportedly setting up a parallel government. This move, while consolidating RSF control in parts of the country, is unlikely to gain widespread international recognition. The RSF’s roots in the notorious janjaweed militias of Darfur, combined with accusations of war crimes and genocide — which both sides deny — have further tarnished its reputation on the global stage.
The situation in Khartoum remains volatile. Sporadic gunfire echoed through the city on Friday, and military analysts predict continued bloody confrontations as the army attempts to expel RSF forces still holding territory south of the palace. The army’s statement emphasized its commitment to ongoing operations, declaring that their objective is to "cleanse every inch of our country from the filth of this militia and its collaborators."
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| Sudanese army members film themselves inside the presidential palace, after, according to the Sudanese army, they took the control of the presidential palace, in Khartoum, Sudan, March 21, 2025, |
The conflict's impact extends far beyond the battlefield. The war has shattered hopes for a democratic transition that had been in motion after the ousting of long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Initially, the army and RSF cooperated to remove both Bashir and the subsequent civilian leadership, but underlying tensions between the two groups eventually erupted into open conflict. Bashir had strategically cultivated Hemedti and the RSF as a counterbalance to the regular army, a move that sowed the seeds for today’s devastating power struggle.
On the humanitarian front, the situation is dire. The UN has highlighted Sudan’s plight as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with famine threatening countless lives and diseases spreading rapidly due to collapsed health systems and unsanitary living conditions. Civilians caught in the crossfire face not only the immediate dangers of warfare but also the slow death of starvation and untreated illness. Humanitarian agencies have struggled to deliver aid, often blocked by ongoing violence and deliberate obstruction from warring factions.
For many Sudanese, the army’s control over the presidential palace rekindles a glimmer of hope. Mohamed Ibrahim, a 55-year-old resident of Khartoum, voiced his optimism, saying, "The liberation of the palace is the best news I've heard since the start of the war. It means the start of the army controlling the rest of Khartoum. We want to be safe again and live without fear or hunger."
However, the RSF remains defiant. On Thursday, it claimed to have seized a key military base in North Darfur, highlighting the geographical spread and complexity of the conflict. Western Sudan, particularly Darfur, continues to witness intense fighting and civilian suffering, with reports of mass atrocities and displacement.
As the army prepares for what could be a protracted and bloody campaign in the west, experts warn of a long road ahead. Ahmed Soliman, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, noted that while the RSF’s position in Khartoum is weakening, its stronghold in western Sudan remains formidable. He cautioned that Sudan is likely facing a prolonged period of partitioned control and ongoing violence.
The international community has largely struggled to mediate or influence the conflict, despite repeated calls for ceasefires and negotiations. Both sides have been accused of using foreign mercenaries and receiving external support, further complicating diplomatic efforts. The possibility of international recognition for any parallel government established by the RSF remains slim, but the group's sustained territorial control could lead to a fractured and unstable Sudan for years to come.
With two years of continuous conflict and no clear resolution in sight, the people of Sudan are caught in a relentless cycle of violence, displacement, and despair. The army’s victory at the presidential palace may signify a turning point, but whether it will lead to peace or further entrenchment of war remains uncertain. In the meantime, the world watches as a nation’s fate hangs in the balance, its people yearning for stability, safety, and the promise of a future free from war.
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