The Sudanese army has retaken the presidential palace in Khartoum, delivering a key symbolic victory against the RSF. Despite this victory, the RSF retains control over parts of Darfur and continues to threaten security. The army has signaled no interest in peace talks, increasing fears of further conflict as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
The Sudanese army has successfully reclaimed the presidential palace in Khartoum, marking a significant victory against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This recapture is celebrated throughout the nation and is viewed as the army’s most substantial achievement since commencing a counteroffensive against the RSF in September of the previous year. The army’s victory symbolizes a shift in the ongoing civil conflict that erupted in April 2023.
Although the RSF maintains control over certain areas in southern Khartoum, it has lost much of the capital. This development follows a recent video release by RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, in which he encouraged his fighters to defend the palace. Reports indicate that civilians generally regard the army as liberators, despite some allegations of human rights violations by army-aligned militias after RSF retreats.
The RSF has been responsible for severe atrocities throughout Sudan, particularly in Khartoum. According to a report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), RSF fighters have detained no fewer than 10,000 individuals in Khartoum since the conflict’s initiation until June of last year. A young Sudanese man, Yousef, remarked, “Whenever the army arrives, people become happy because they feel safer.”
However, the army’s takeover of the presidential palace raises concerns about a potential partition of Sudan. The RSF continues to support a parallel government and governs four of the five regions in Darfur, an area comparable in size to France. The RSF recently captured the strategic city of al-Maliha in North Darfur, a region still under some army control.
Analysts caution that Sudan may be heading towards a governance scenario similar to that of Libya, where competing authorities are tied to various armed groups. According to Sharath Srinivasan, a Sudan specialist at Cambridge University, “It feels the geographic bifurcation is getting stronger.” The RSF must secure el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, to assert control.
The army has yet to engage in peace negotiations with the RSF, professing its intent to regain complete control of the nation. Conversely, the RSF has reportedly used diplomatic efforts to further militarize its operations. In January of the previous year, Hemedti entered a “Declaration of Principles” with an antiwar coalition while his forces continued committing violence against civilians.
Both factions have signaled their commitment to ongoing conflict, raising alarms about intensified clashes, particularly in western Sudan. The influx of advanced weaponry into the area further exacerbates the situation, as seen when a drone strike tragically claimed the lives of three journalists shortly after the army celebrated reclaiming the palace.
This persistent conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale, with tens of thousands of casualties, countless individuals unaccounted for, and millions facing alarming food insecurity.
The recapture of the presidential palace by Sudan’s army marks a crucial and symbolic victory in the ongoing civil war. While this may seem favorable for the army, concerns about a potential partition and continued violence emerge. The RSF retains significant influence, particularly in Darfur, complicating prospects for peace. As both factions exhibit a readiness to escalate their conflict, the humanitarian crisis worsens, with severe consequences for the populace.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
