After months of intense fighting, the Sudanese Army has taken control of key locations in Khartoum, marking a turning point in its battle against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The army recaptured the Republican Palace, which the RSF had held since April last year, along with major institutions such as the Central Bank, the General Intelligence Headquarters, and the state-run media complex.
The military’s success has raised concerns in the United Arab Emirates, which has been a major backer of the RSF and its leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. The UAE’s support has come under increasing scrutiny, with Sudanese military leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan filing a complaint against the Gulf nation at the United Nations and pursuing legal action against its president at the International Criminal Court.
The RSF had been working with various Sudanese political and military factions to establish a rival government from the Republican Palace. With this plan now dismantled, the Sudanese Army sees its recent victories as a major step toward regaining control of the country. However, the RSF remains a formidable force, still holding large portions of Sudan and reportedly receiving new supplies and reinforcements.
Sudan has a long history of military coups, with its leadership shifting hands through force since its independence in 1956. Al-Burhan himself rose to power through the military coup that ousted longtime ruler Omar Al-Bashir in 2019. The RSF, originally formed to crush dissent in Darfur under Al-Bashir, later became a political force in its own right, with Hemedti climbing the ranks to become Al-Burhan’s deputy before their alliance collapsed into open conflict.
The rift between the army and RSF has been fueled by external alliances, with Dagalo securing backing from the UAE, Ethiopia, and Israel, while Al-Burhan has drawn support from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This division has prolonged the bloodshed, with the Sudanese people suffering most as the fight for power continues.
Despite the army’s success in Khartoum, the war is far from over. The RSF has retreated but is not defeated, and the potential for renewed clashes remains high. As both sides prepare for the next phase of the conflict, Sudan’s future remains uncertain, with no clear resolution in sight.