Sudan’s military has regained control of the Khartoum presidential palace from the RSF, marking a significant milestone in an ongoing two-year conflict. The RSF’s loss highlights ongoing challenges as the military advances. Despite claiming this territory, the conflict has led to severe humanitarian crises and human rights allegations against both factions.
On Friday, Sudan’s military announced the reclaiming of the presidential palace in Khartoum from the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This marks a significant progress in a conflict that has persisted for nearly two years and poses serious risks to the nation’s stability. The army’s control over the Republican Palace represents the last stronghold of the RSF within the capital.
Videos shared on social media depicted soldiers celebrating their victory on the 21st day of Ramadan inside the palace. The scenes showed conditions of disrepair within the compound as soldiers jubilantly proclaimed, “God is the greatest!” while navigating through broken tiles. This compound along the Nile, historically significant in Sudanese governance, has been a strategic target for the military amid ongoing clashes with the RSF.
General Abdel-Fattah Burhan has spearheaded the military’s recent advances against the RSF, which was previously led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The RSF has not acknowledged the loss, indicating that military conflict is likely to continue, especially given their hold on significant territories elsewhere in the country. The ongoing conflict has led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with death tolls exceeding 28,000 and millions displaced.
Historically, the Republican Palace served as a significant government seat during British colonization and has seen pivotal moments in Sudan’s post-independence history. Following the 2019 removal of President Omar al-Bashir, Sudan shifted briefly towards democracy until a military coup in 2021 disrupted progress. The ensuing combat between the military and RSF began in 2023, resulting in escalating civilian suffering.
Al-Bashir faces International Criminal Court charges for genocide linked to the Darfur conflict, while the RSF and their allied groups face similar high-level accusations during the current war. Both the military and RSF have been reported to commit various human rights abuses, with the RSF previously labeled as committing genocide by U.S. authorities before the end of President Biden’s tenure.
The Sudanese military’s reclaiming of the Khartoum presidential palace underscores a pivotal development in the ongoing conflict with the RSF. With significant challenges and casualties, the war continues to create dire humanitarian crises affecting millions. The historical significance of the palace and the implications of this military victory reflect the ongoing strife within Sudan, raising concerns over future stability and the protection of human rights.
Original Source: www.france24.com
