Sudan Military Claims Control of Republican Palace in Khartoum After Fierce Fighting

Sudan’s military announced on Friday that it had recaptured the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the last major stronghold of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the capital, marking a significant shift in the nearly two-year-long conflict. The army’s victory comes amid ongoing battles for control of the war-torn nation, which has been gripped by violence since April 2023.
Videos circulating on social media showed Sudanese army soldiers inside the heavily fortified palace, celebrating their success and confirming the takeover. In one of the videos, a Sudanese military officer, identifiable by his captain’s epaulets, declared the military’s presence inside the compound. Soldiers in the footage mentioned that the palace was retaken on the 21st day of Ramadan, which fell on Friday, a significant day in the holy Muslim fasting month.
The Republican Palace, a symbol of political authority, had been under RSF control for months as Sudan’s military struggled to regain key territories in the capital. Since the outbreak of fighting between the army and the RSF, Khartoum has been one of the most contested battlegrounds, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis unfolding.
The battle for the palace is part of a broader struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. The conflict erupted in April 2023 following tensions over the integration of the RSF into the regular army, derailing Sudan’s already fragile transition to civilian rule.
While the military’s recapture of the palace is a major strategic and symbolic victory, fighting continues in other parts of the country. Reports suggest that RSF fighters are regrouping in different areas, and clashes remain intense in parts of Khartoum and the wider Darfur region. Despite calls for ceasefires and peace talks from international mediators, the conflict has only deepened, displacing millions and leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.
As the situation develops, Sudanese citizens continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with shortages of food, water, and medical supplies worsening. The international community has urged both sides to end hostilities and seek a political resolution, but so far, peace efforts have been largely unsuccessful.
The recapture of the Republican Palace is a crucial moment in the ongoing war, but it remains to be seen whether it will shift the overall trajectory of the conflict or lead to further escalations.