Amidst the turmoil of Sudan’s recent political landscape, a noteworthy development occurred on a fateful Friday. The Sudanese military, with resolute determination, announced that they had seized control of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, a symbolic fortress currently held by opposing paramilitary forces, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This maneuver marks a pivotal shift in a relentless conflict that has gripped Sudan for the past two years, tearing at the nation’s fabric and testing the very limits of its endurance.
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Picture this: An ancient palace, its opulent hallways echoing with the heavy footsteps of soldiers. Videos splashed across social media depict Sudanese troops navigating the battle-worn interior, their boots crushing the remnants of shattered tiles beneath them, a haunting testament to the palace’s battered history. Armed with assault rifles and rocket-launchers, and with voices rising triumphantly in unison as they chanted, “God is the greatest!”—they celebrated this significant victory. But is this really the endgame?
One officer, captured on film, made it clear: this was the 21st day of Ramadan, an auspicious day fitting for reclaiming such a notable stronghold.
Symbol of sovereignty
The Republican Palace stands as more than mere stone and mortar; it’s a monument etched onto Sudanese currency and postage stamps. Once the epicenter of governance before the storm of war descended in April 2023, its capture signals a powerful stride by the military, commanded by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan. Forces have methodically pushed RSF elements from the majority of the capital. It was an effort not lost on Sudan’s information minister, Khaled al-Aiser, who took to X to express optimism. “Today the flag is raised, the palace is back, and the journey continues until victory is complete,” he wrote. How long will this journey, fuelled by resilience and echoes of prior struggles, continue?
Silent, at least publicly, RSF has not acknowledged this setback. Yet, Khartoum was alive with the sporadic crackle of gunfire on that Friday, leaving one to question the intention—was this a somber farewell or the final whispers of defiance?
Conflict persisting
Although Khartoum may be slipping from their grasp, the RSF is far from dissolved; they hold territory elsewhere with unyielding tenacity. Just one day prior, the paramilitary group asserted they had overtaken al-Maliha, a desert city pivotal for its strategic location near Chad and Libya’s borders. The military acknowledged engagement in the area, though they did not concede the city’s fall.
This city’s heart beats some 200 kilometers north of El Fasher—a Sudanese military bastion still enduring relentless RSF assaults, nearly as regular as clockwork.
Nation in turmoil
Sudan’s war-torn landscape has spiraled into chaos, claiming over 28,000 lives and displacing millions trapped in a relentless grip of famine. The desperation? Utterly palpable. Stories have emerged of families pushed to the edge, scrounging for sustenance in grass—a stark violation of human dignity. Some humanitarian organizations lament that the death toll is likely far more grievous than officially reported.
Is there an end in sight? The United Nations unequivocally describes this crisis as the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian situation. Furthermore, human rights organizations allege horrific abuses committed by both factions.
Before departing his post, U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration denounced the RSF’s actions as genocide, highlighting the atrocities committed by them and allied forces against Darfur’s ethnic African communities.
Meanwhile, former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir remains wanted by the International Criminal Court for his own orchestration of genocide in the region during the early 2000s, when the RSF’s precursor, the feared Janjaweed militia, rained terror upon the populace.
Caught in a crossfire
Since the fall of its authoritarian ruler in 2019 amidst a popular uprising, Sudan has teetered on a precipice of uncertainty. Was democratization ever within reach? A coup was staged by Burhan and RSF leader Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo in 2021, only for both to find themselves clashing violently by 2023, plunging the nation into deep upheaval.
Burhan—his forces and allied militias emboldened—has seen significant advances as of late. They’ve seized control of a vital refinery north of Khartoum and hemmed in RSF positions within the capital. Yet, the twin shadows of conflict loom ever large; peace seems an elusive dream as the battle for control persists, leaving the nation’s civilians ensnared in an uninterrupted barrage of suffering.
For the people of Sudan, who have watched the old world crumble only to be replaced by chaos, the path forward remains uncertain. But in the words of a Sudanese proverb: “When a hyena wants to eat its young, it first accuses them of smelling like goats.”
Will this conflict grow until peace becomes but a distant memory, or can Sudan find a way forward from this tumult?
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
