The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have recaptured the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, a major strategic victory in their ongoing battle against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The palace had been under RSF control since April 2023, when the conflict erupted, plunging the country into a brutal civil war.
The SAF’s offensive, marked by drone strikes and heavy artillery bombardment, has seen the army make significant advances in recent months. The capture of the Presidential Palace signals a turning point in the struggle for control over Sudan’s capital, between Generals Burhan and RSF’s Hemedti Dagalo which has remained a battleground since hostilities began.
The RSF has not issued an official statement, but sources close to the paramilitary group indicate fierce resistance remains in parts of the capital. Analysts warn that while the SAF’s success in reclaiming the palace is significant, the war is far from over. The RSF still holds vast territories in Sudan, including key cities in Darfur and Kordofan.
The conflict, which began as a power struggle between SAF leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has led to one of Africa’s worst humanitarian crises. Millions have been displaced, and reports of human rights violations, including ethnic massacres, have drawn international condemnation.
Regional and international mediators have repeatedly called for a ceasefire, but efforts to broker peace have largely failed. The fall of the Presidential Palace could shift the dynamics of the conflict, but whether it leads to further military escalation or renewed negotiations remains to be seen.
