Sudanese Military Regains Control of Republican Palace Amid…

The Sudanese military has announced the retaking of the Republican Palace in Khartoum from rival paramilitary forces after nearly two years of conflict. The military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, marks this capture as a significant advance while reports indicate ongoing humanitarian crises with high civilian casualties. The RSF continues to hold territory in Sudan despite this setback.

Sudan’s military announced the recapture of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the last stronghold held by rival paramilitary forces, following almost two years of intense conflict. Videos on social media displayed soldiers within the palace, confirming their presence, and designating the date as the 21st day of Ramadan. The compound, partly destroyed, reverberated with the sounds of soldiers chanting, “God is the greatest!” while navigating through rubble underfoot.

Khaled al-Aiser, the information minister of Sudan, affirmed the military’s gain through a post on the social media platform X. In his proclamation, he stated, “Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete.” The capture of the Republican Palace represents a significant advancement for Sudan’s military under General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, pushing the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) out of the capital following the onset of the wars in April 2023.

Although the RSF has not officially reported the loss, the ongoing conflict is expected to persist, as they maintain control over territories in other regions of Sudan. In a recent claim, the RSF reported seizing the strategic city of al-Maliha, located north of Khartoum, while Sudan’s military acknowledged skirmishes in the vicinity but denied any losses.

The United Nations has highlighted that the ongoing conflict has led to one of the most significant humanitarian crises worldwide, with more than 28,000 fatalities. This conflict has also caused mass displacements, with reports of families resorting to consuming grass to survive amid famine conditions.

Historically, the Republican Palace served as a key administrative center during British colonial rule and hosted the first independent Sudanese ceremonies in 1956. The military has continuously targeted the palace grounds in their bilateral confrontation with the RSF, which escalated following a coup in 2021, derailing a brief transition to democracy.

Reports indicate that both factions are facing accusations of serious human rights violations amid their ongoing skirmishes, including a declaration by the U.S. State Department under President Biden labeling the RSF’s actions as genocidal. Both the military and the RSF have denied these accusations.

In summary, Sudan’s military has successfully regained control of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, signifying a significant territorial gain against the rival RSF amidst an ongoing conflict that has led to widespread humanitarian crises. While the military celebrates this victory, the RSF has not acknowledged the loss and continues to hold other regions in Sudan. The ramifications of the fighting include alarming civilian casualties and severe humanitarian suffering, highlighting the urgent need for peace and stability in the region.

Original Source: apnews.com