Sudan’s army has regained control of the capital city, Khartoum, nearly two years after it was taken by a paramilitary group.
The military-led government fled Khartoum and relocated to the country’s coast when a civil war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023.
Head of the army General Abdel-Fattah Burhan declared victory from the Presidential Palace, his first time inside the building in nearly two years.
Background
Sudan was ruled for decades by dictator Omar al-Bashir, who faces charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Bashir was removed by the RSF and the army (SAF) in 2019. Democratic elections were supposed to follow, but Sudan was instead effectively ruled by SAF leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy, RSF leader Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (‘Hemedti’).
In April 2023, the partnership fell apart, resulting in a civil war.
Violent clashes in Khartoum resulted in the RSF holding the city’s airport and Presidential Palace, and the SAF fleeing to the coast.
Despite multiple attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in the early days of the war, both sides largely ignored agreements, each blaming the other for violations.
In October 2024, the UN accused the RSF of “major” attacks on civilians, including “rampant sexual violence” against women and girls.
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UN Chief António Guterres described the conflict as a “nightmare” of hunger, disease, displacement, “collapsed infrastructure,” and “mass ethnic violence”.
Recapture
Earlier this week, footage released by the SAF showed Burhan arriving at Khartoum International Airport with his troops, and kissing the ground. He then entered the Presidential Palace for the first time since he fled in April 2023.
An army spokesperson told international media SAF forces had regained control of several important bridges connecting parts of the city.
The RSF still controls parts of the city, and much of the country’s west, however.
Comments
In a post on social media, Sudanese Information Minister Khalid Aleiser described the army’s entry to Khartoum as “a pivotal and decisive moment”.
The RSF has yet to publicly comment.
The United Nations (UN) said it is “closely monitoring the latest shifts in control,” and that Sudan “remains in the grip of one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises”.
The UN relief office said more than 30 million people need “urgent assistance”.
