- Military regains control of presidential compound on 21st day of Ramadan
- RSF paramilitary forces expelled from Khartoum after prolonged urban warfare
- Conflict creates world's largest displacement crisis with famine risks
- Strategic city of al-Maliha captured by RSF in Darfur escalation
Sudan's armed forces announced a symbolic victory Friday with the recapture of Khartoum's Republican Palace, the former colonial-era seat of power now reduced to rubble. Social media footage verified by military officials shows soldiers navigating shattered tiles and collapsed walls within the compound, chanting religious slogans while brandishing heavy weaponry. The complex's fall marks the formal expulsion of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the capital after months of street-to-street combat.
Humanitarian organizations report catastrophic conditions across Sudan, with over 30,000 fatalities and 8 million displaced since fighting erupted in April 2023. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warns displaced families now resort to consuming wild grasses as food systems collapse. Despite military gains in Khartoum, RSF maintains control of western territories including the recently seized desert hub of al-Maliha - a critical junction for cross-border weapons smuggling into Chad and Libya.
Analysts highlight the Republican Palace's psychological significance as a nationalist symbol featured on currency and stamps. Its 1956 independence declaration makes the ruins a potent emblem of state fragmentation. Regional security experts note the RSF's Darfur stronghold enables continued revenue streams through gold mining and illicit trafficking, complicating prospects for decisive military resolution.
The conflict's roots trace to the 2021 coup partnership between army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo that dissolved Sudan's transitional government. Historical parallels emerge with former dictator Omar al-Bashir's genocidal Janjaweed campaigns, as current RSF forces face renewed ICC scrutiny for ethnic violence against African communities. U.S. officials formally accuse the paramilitary group of genocide despite their denials.
Urban warfare specialists identify Khartoum's refinery recapture earlier this year as the military's turning point, enabling fuel supply lines for mechanized assaults. However, RSF's adaptation as mobile insurgent forces in civilian areas continues to produce high collateral damage. With both factions controlling vital territories, international mediators predict protracted conflict despite recent battlefield shifts.
