Sudan’s military has announced the recapture of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, a key strategic position held by rival paramilitary forces. This marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict that has been raging since April 2023. Khaled al-Aiser confirmed the military’s victory while humanitarian crises worsen amidst the violence and allegations of human rights abuses from both sides.
On Friday, Sudan’s military announced that it has regained control of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, a significant stronghold of rival paramilitary forces amidst ongoing conflict. This announcement, timed to coincide with the 21st day of Ramadan, was made by a military officer who confirmed the troops’ presence within the palace grounds. Video footage revealed the palace in ruins, with soldiers chanting, “God is the greatest!” while navigating through debris.
Khaled al-Aiser, Sudan’s information minister, took to social media to celebrate the military’s achievement, stating, “Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete.” The fall of the Republican Palace symbolizes both a strategic gain and a poignant moment in the ongoing civil war that has devastated Sudan since April 2023.
With the Republican Palace, historically recognized and featured on national currency, the military has made notable advances under the leadership of Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, pushing rival forces, specifically the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, further from Khartoum. Although sporadic gunfire was reported, the RSF has yet to acknowledge the loss of this significant location.
The RSF claimed on Thursday to control the strategic city of al-Maliha in North Darfur, near the borders of Chad and Libya. This area remains contested as fighting continues between the military and RSF forces, posing security challenges across the region. While civilian fatalities have been catastrophic—with over 28,000 reported dead and millions displaced—the conflict continues to exacerbate humanitarian crises.
Sudan’s descent into chaos commenced following the 2019 ousting of long-time President Omar al-Bashir, when a brief attempt at democratic governance was derailed in 2021 by Burhan and Dagalo’s military coup. Human Rights organizations and the United Nations have condemned both factions for human rights violations, with previous allegations labeling the RSF as perpetrators of genocide due to their actions against ethnic groups in the ongoing conflict. Both the military and RSF maintain their innocence regarding these accusations.
In summary, the retaking of the Republican Palace by Sudan’s military signifies both a strategic advancement in their ongoing conflict against the RSF and a critical point in the nation’s tumultuous struggle for stability. Despite this victory, significant humanitarian crises persist, with allegations of human rights abuses looming over both factions as the conflict continues. The impact of this civil war underscores the fragility of peace in Sudan and the dire situation facing its inhabitants.
Original Source: www.haltonhillstoday.ca
