Sudan’s army is on the verge of reclaiming the Presidential Palace in Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), state television reported on Thursday. If successful, this development would mark a major shift in a two-year conflict that has deeply divided the country.
Shifting Frontlines in Khartoum
The RSF quickly took control of the palace and most of Khartoum in April 2023 when fighting erupted between the two forces. However, in recent months, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have regained ground, advancing along the River Nile and pushing closer to the palace.
The RSF continues to hold large portions of the capital, neighboring Omdurman, and parts of western Sudan, including Darfur, where fierce battles are ongoing for control of the army’s last major stronghold in al-Fashir.
If the army succeeds in retaking the capital, it could accelerate its consolidation of central Sudan and further entrench the east-west divide between the warring factions.
Intensifying Battles and Military Strategies
The fight for the Presidential Palace has escalated in recent weeks, with RSF forces deploying snipers in downtown Khartoum and receiving direct orders from their leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, to defend the palace at all costs.
Late on Wednesday and into Thursday, heavy explosions were reported as the army conducted airstrikes and drone attacks on central Khartoum. The SAF has long held an advantage in air power, but recent reports indicate the RSF has made strides in drone warfare, complicating the army’s offensive.
At the same time, the RSF claims it is advancing toward the Army General Command in central Khartoum, attacking from the southern part of the city.
A Nation in Crisis
The ongoing war has triggered what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with famine and disease spreading across Sudan. Millions have been displaced, and aid organizations warn that many are on the brink of starvation due to restricted access to food and medical supplies.
Both the army and the RSF have been accused of war crimes, with the RSF also facing allegations of genocide. Both factions deny these accusations.
Growing Security Concerns
In areas recently retaken by the army, reports of human rights abuses have emerged. In Khartoum’s Fayhaa neighborhood, authorities discovered 11 bodies—including women and children—at the bottom of a well, allegedly executed during RSF control. Similar incidents have been reported elsewhere in the country, raising concerns over ongoing atrocities.
Meanwhile, despite the army’s advances, activists in Omdurman have accused some soldiers of looting and robbery, allegations the military denies.
What’s Next?
With no peace negotiations in sight, both sides remain committed to a prolonged fight for control of Sudan. The potential recapture of the Presidential Palace would be a symbolic and strategic victory for the army, but it is unlikely to end the conflict. As territorial divisions deepen, Sudan’s humanitarian crisis worsens, leaving millions caught in the crossfire with no immediate resolution in sight.
