Sudan Army Claims Control of Presidential Palace Amid Deepening Conflict
In a significant development in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the Sudanese army announced on Friday, March 21st, that it had seized full control of the Presidential Palace in downtown Khartoum. This marks one of the most symbolic gains for the army in its two-year-old conflict with the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has threatened to partition the country.
The army, which had previously been on the defensive, has recently been gaining ground and retaking territory in the center of the country from the RSF. Conversely, the RSF has consolidated its control in the west, hardening battle lines and moving the country towards a de facto partition. The RSF is reportedly working to establish a parallel government in the areas it controls, although this move is not expected to receive widespread international recognition.
According to the army’s statement, it has also taken control of ministries and other key buildings in central Khartoum. Military sources indicated that RSF fighters had withdrawn approximately 400 meters from the palace. The RSF had initially seized the palace, along with the rest of Khartoum, after the war erupted in April 2023 over the integration of the paramilitary group into the armed forces.
The army shared videos of soldiers celebrating inside the palace, which showed shattered glass windows and walls marked with bullet holes, evidence of the intense fighting that had taken place. As of now, the RSF has not issued any immediate comment on the retaking of the palace or the army’s advances in Khartoum.
However, late on Thursday, the RSF announced that it had seized a key base from the army in North Darfur, a region in the west of the country, highlighting the continued intensity of the conflict in other regions.
The news of the army’s control of the palace was met with relief and optimism by many Sudanese citizens. Mohamed Ibrahim, a 55-year-old Khartoum resident, expressed his sentiments, saying, "The liberation of the palace is the best news I’ve heard since the start of the war, because it means the start of the army controlling the rest of Khartoum. We want to be safe again and live without fear or hunger."
The conflict in Sudan has triggered a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions. The United Nations has described it as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with widespread famine and disease affecting the country’s 50 million people. Both sides of the conflict have been accused of war crimes, and the RSF has also been charged with genocide, allegations that both sides deny.
Despite the army’s advances, intermittent gunfire could still be heard in Khartoum on Friday, indicating that the fighting is far from over. Bloody clashes are expected as the army seeks to corner the RSF, which continues to occupy swathes of territory to the south of the palace in the city.
In a statement that reflects the army’s determination to prevail, it stated, "We are moving forward along all fighting axes until victory is complete by cleansing every inch of our country from the filth of this militia and its collaborators."
The war erupted two years ago as Sudan was planning a transition to democratic rule, a period of hope that has been shattered by the conflict. The army and RSF, formerly allies, had joined forces to oust Omar al-Bashir from power in 2019 and later to remove civilian leadership. However, tensions between the two groups had been simmering for a long time. Bashir had cultivated the RSF, which has its roots in Darfur’s janjaweed militias, and its leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as a counterweight to the army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The situation in Sudan remains fluid and unpredictable. The army’s recent gains, including the control of the Presidential Palace, represent a significant shift in the conflict. However, the RSF’s continued control of territory in the west and south, coupled with its efforts to establish a parallel government, suggests that the country is headed toward a prolonged period of instability and potential de facto partition.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence and the humanitarian crisis. Efforts to mediate a ceasefire and facilitate a political solution have so far been unsuccessful. The future of Sudan hangs in the balance, as the conflict continues to claim lives, displace populations, and undermine the country’s aspirations for a democratic and peaceful future. The potential for further escalation and regional instability remains high, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive and sustained international effort to address the root causes of the conflict and promote a lasting solution.
