The Sudanese army has taken full control of the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, marking a major victory in its ongoing conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), state television and military sources confirmed on Friday.
This development represents one of the most significant territorial gains for the army in the two-year-long war, which has pushed Sudan further into turmoil and raised fears of the country’s fragmentation. In addition to securing the palace, the army announced that it had also taken control of several government ministries in the capital.
Following the takeover, Sudanese forces launched search operations in the surrounding areas, seeking out remaining RSF fighters. The paramilitary group, which had seized the palace and much of Khartoum at the start of the war in April 2023, has been steadily losing ground as the army regains control along the River Nile.
Despite this setback, the RSF continues to hold parts of Khartoum and Omdurman, as well as large sections of western Sudan. The group has been engaged in intense battles to capture al-Fashir, the Sudanese army’s last stronghold in the Darfur region.
The capture of Khartoum could allow the army to strengthen its hold over central Sudan and further entrench the division of the country along east-west lines. However, both sides remain committed to fighting for control of Sudan, with no signs of peace negotiations on the horizon.
The war, which began as a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, erupted just before a planned transition to civilian rule. Since then, the conflict has devastated Sudan, displacing millions and leading to widespread humanitarian suffering.
With neither side showing willingness to back down, the battle for Sudan’s future remains far from over.
