Implications of the Sudanese Army’s Recapture of the Presidential Palace
Sudan Events – Agencies
The Sudanese army announced in a statement on Friday morning that it had gained full control of the Presidential Palace in central Khartoum. This marks a significant victory in its ongoing two-year conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a battle that threatens to divide the country. The army released footage showing soldiers cheering inside the palace, which had shattered glass windows and bullet-riddled walls. Meanwhile, the RSF stated that it remains present around the palace and had launched a drone attack that killed dozens of army soldiers inside.
Gunfire was intermittently heard in Khartoum on Friday, and intense fighting is expected as the army seeks to encircle RSF forces, which still control large areas south of the Presidential Palace.
The RSF had quickly seized the Presidential Palace and most of the capital when the war broke out in April 2023 due to disputes over integrating RSF into the army.
For a long period, the army suffered setbacks, but it has recently regained territory in central Sudan. Meanwhile, the RSF has strengthened its grip in the west, raising fears of an effective division of the country. The RSF has been forming a parallel government in its controlled areas, though it is unlikely to receive widespread international recognition. On Thursday night, the RSF claimed to have captured a key military base in North Darfur, in western Sudan.
The World’s Largest Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict has led to what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, causing famine in several areas and widespread disease across Sudan, a country of 45 million people. Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes.
Many Sudanese welcomed the news of the army’s recapture of the Presidential Palace. Mohammed Ibrahim, a 55-year-old resident of Khartoum, told Reuters, “The liberation of the palace is the best news since the war began, as it signals the army’s control over all of Khartoum. We want security to return so we can live without fear or hunger.”
The army’s statement declared: “We are committed to fighting on all fronts until we achieve complete victory by cleansing every inch of our land from the militia and its allies.”
RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, had earlier instructed his forces to maintain their hold on the palace. Ahmed Suleiman, a researcher at Chatham House, noted that while the RSF still holds positions in Khartoum, its presence is weaker than ever. He suggested that the army is likely to continue the war in western Sudan, leading the country into “a reality of prolonged conflict and division.”
The Overthrow of Civilian Leadership
The war erupted amid plans for a democratic transition. The army and RSF had previously worked together to oust former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019 and later removed the civilian leadership. However, tensions between the two forces go back years, as Bashir had empowered Hemedti and the RSF to counterbalance the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
A Strategic Military Victory
Military analysts see the Sudanese army’s capture of the Presidential Palace as a major strategic victory in central Khartoum, with significant implications for future battles.
Military expert and strategist Major General Amin Ismail Majzoub stated that “liberating the Presidential Palace effectively marks the end of the battle for central Khartoum. There are no longer any strong RSF forces in the area, allowing the army to advance towards the southern neighborhoods of Al-Amarat, Al-Riyadh, Al-Taif, and Al-Mamoura.”
Loss of Central Command
Majzoub added: “The RSF has no choice but to retreat westward toward Jebel Awlia, as its supply lines—logistics, ammunition, fuel, and solar power—inside Khartoum have been completely cut off.”
He explained that the RSF has lost both field commanders and centralized control, leaving its fighters scattered and surrounded in central Khartoum. Their only option is to withdraw to other areas. The drone strike on the Presidential Palace following the army’s takeover suggests that RSF lacks ground forces, relying instead on drones and artillery strikes.
According to the security and military expert, this victory will allow the army to redeploy troops previously focused on central Khartoum to other key battlefronts. Forces could move toward southern Omdurman to capture Al-Salihah and Jebel Awlia, or even redeploy to western Kordofan and northern Darfur to push RSF forces out of those regions.
