The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced on Friday that they have regained control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, a key site previously held by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the conflict began.
SAF spokesman Brigadier-General Nabil Abdallah declared that the army had “completely destroyed” RSF units in downtown Khartoum, including the Grand Market and the presidential palace. He also reported the seizure of significant weaponry.
“In an immortal heroic battle, our forces today crowned their successes in the Khartoum fronts, crushing the remnants of the Al-Daglo militia terrorists in central Khartoum, the Arab Market, the Presidential Palace (a symbol of the sovereignty and dignity of the Sudanese nation), and the ministries,” Abdallah said.
“Thanks to Allah’s guidance, our forces destroyed the enemy’s personnel and equipment and seized large quantities of their weapons. We dedicate these victories to our patient people and pledge to continue advancing on all battlefronts until we purge every inch of our land of the militia and its allies,” he added.
Videos circulating on social media, verified by Sudans Post, show SAF soldiers celebrating at the palace, waving flags and displaying weapons amidst debris.
The recapture of the presidential palace marks a significant blow to the RSF, which had occupied the symbolic and strategically vital site since April 2023.
The SAF has launched a series of offensives in recent months, regaining control of areas north and east of the Blue Nile River, including Bahri and East Nile localities. The operation to reclaim the palace began on Sunday, combining aerial bombardments with ground assaults to isolate RSF forces.
According to SAF sources, RSF attempts to retreat on Wednesday night were thwarted, resulting in heavy RSF casualties.
While SAF’s gains signal a potential shift in the conflict’s dynamics in Khartoum, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (Hemedti) vowed in a Saturday video address to continue fighting.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has caused widespread displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Both the SAF and RSF have been accused of atrocities, with the U.S. labeling the RSF’s actions in Darfur as genocide. Western powers have sanctioned army chief Abdelfattah Al-Burhan and Hemedti for atrocities committed during the war.
The SAF’s victory at the presidential palace may signal an advance toward RSF-controlled southern neighborhoods, including Gabra, Soba, and Jebel Awlia, where RSF’s remaining supply line, the Jebel Awlia Dam bridge, is located.
