Sudanese army crushes enemy forces and reclaims presidential palace in intense Khartoum battle.Photo by Ebrahim Hamid/AFP
EPICSTORIAN — Sudan’s military has regained control of the presidential palace in Khartoum after intense clashes with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The battle marks a turning point in the ongoing conflict, which erupted when RSF fighters overran the palace in April 2023.
Army spokesman Nabil Abdallah, in a televised statement on Friday, confirmed the victory, stating that enemy forces had been eliminated, their equipment destroyed, and a large cache of weapons seized.
“Our forces completely destroyed the enemy’s fighters and equipment, and seized large quantities of equipment and weapons,” he said.
Videos circulated on social media showing soldiers inside the palace exchanging congratulations. Although AFP could not verify the footage, its emergence underscored the military’s renewed confidence in its campaign against the RSF.
Army Pushes Forward Until ‘Every Inch’ is Reclaimed in Khartoum and Across the Country
Combat operations will continue until all RSF positions are dismantled, Abdallah declared.
“We will continue to progress on all fronts until victory is complete and every inch of our country is purged of the militia and its supporters,” he said.
The battle for control of Khartoum has remained one of the fiercest fronts in the conflict, with both sides engaged in prolonged urban warfare.
Shifting Momentum in the Conflict
The military’s advance on the presidential palace signals a shift in the battlefield dynamic. RSF forces had maintained a stronghold in the area since the war began, using captured government buildings as strategic bases.
The army’s latest operation indicates an effort to reverse those losses and reclaim key installations.
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Large quantities of seized weapons suggest RSF fighters had heavily fortified their positions before being driven out. The extent of casualties on both sides remains unclear, but the scale of the battle underscores the intensity of the fight for control of the capital.
War’s Impact on the Civilian Population
Civilians in Khartoum continue to endure the consequences of the conflict, with reports of airstrikes, artillery fire, and widespread displacement. Access to food, water, and medical care remains severely restricted, while the security situation keeps worsening.
The military’s push to reclaim lost ground raises questions about how long the conflict will persist and whether further urban battles will follow. Control over key areas remains contested, and neither side has shown signs of backing down.
