The Sudanese army has regained full control of the presidential palace in Khartoum after two years under the RSF. Although the army has made significant territorial gains, the RSF is still active, highlighted by a drone strike that killed journalists. The conflict has displaced millions and raised concerns over potential divisions within the country.
Sudan’s armed forces have regained complete control of the presidential palace in Khartoum, marking a significant turn in the conflict that began over two years ago with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Following recent military advancements, the government announced this development on a Friday, stating that they had closed in on the location along the Blue Nile. Information Minister Khaled al-Aiser proclaimed, “Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete.” Footage circulating on social media depicted jubilant armed troops celebrating within the palace grounds.
The RSF seized the palace and significant areas of Khartoum in April 2023, prompting government leaders, including Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to relocate to Port Sudan along the Red Sea coast. The palace complex comprises two significant structures: the original Ottoman-Egyptian republican palace established in 1825 and a larger building constructed in 2015 by former president Omar al-Bashir. The older building is particularly historic, as it is the site where British General Charles Gordon was killed in 1885, signaling the end of Ottoman-Egyptian dominion over Sudan.
Despite both buildings sustaining damage at the onset of the fighting, the army has reported regaining control over vital ministries and strategic buildings in central Khartoum. The recent reclamation, however, was marred by tragedy, as an RSF drone strike on the palace claimed the lives of three journalists who were covering the ongoing conflict for Sudanese state television. The RSF has asserted its presence near the palace, indicating that hostilities are continuing.
While the army has made territorial gains in central Sudan, the RSF remains firmly entrenched in the western Darfur region, where allegations of genocide against non-Arab populations have surfaced. A report from the Raoul Wallenberg Centre last year concluded that genocide was being perpetrated by the RSF and associated militias in Darfur. The United States has also imposed sanctions on RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemeti, along with Burhan.
In a troubling development, RSF leaders convened in Kenya last month to establish a parallel government purportedly endorsed by the United Arab Emirates. This circumstance raises the prospect of a fractured Sudan, akin to the situation in Libya. The protracted conflict has led to the displacement of over 10 million people and has left more than 12 million individuals facing severe food insecurity, resulting in numerous fatalities.
In summary, the Sudanese army’s recapture of the presidential palace marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict with the RSF. Despite military advancements, the RSF continues to pose a threat with its drone attacks and control over Darfur. The situation remains precarious, exacerbated by fears of a divided Sudan and humanitarian crises affecting millions.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
