Sudan’s military has consolidated its gains in the capital, taking more key government buildings a day after it seized control of the presidential palace.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 when a power struggle between the leaders of the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) boiled over into open fighting in Khartoum and other cities.
At the start of the war, the RSF took over multiple government and military buildings in the capital, including the presidential palace, also known as the Republican Palace, and the headquarters of the state television. The force also occupied people’s houses.
Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah, a spokesperson for the Sudanese military, said troops have now expelled the RSF from the headquarters of the Central Bank of Sudan and other government and educational buildings in the area.
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The military also retook the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service and Corinthia Hotel in central Khartoum.
Hundreds of RSF fighters were killed as they tried to flee the city, while Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Ibrahim, from the military’s media office, was also killed in the attack, the military said.
The RSF has not yet commented.
A drone attack on the palace on Friday – believed to have been launched by the RSF – killed two journalists and a driver with Sudanese state television, according to the ministry of information.
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1:07 Sudan’s army recaptures presidential palace
On Friday, social media videos showed military soldiers inside the palace. A Sudanese military officer wearing a captain’s epaulettes made the announcement in a video and confirmed the troops were inside the compound.
The Republican Palace was the seat of government before the war began, but now appears to be partly in ruins.
Image: Sudan army soldiers celebrate after they took over the Republican Palace in Khartoum on Friday. Pic: AP
The military is now likely to try to retake the Khartoum International Airport, only a short distance from the palace, which has been held by the RSF since the start of the war, with video showing soldiers on a road leading to the airport.
Analysis: Sudan’s recaptured palace is a significant sign of return to order
The war has killed more than 28,000 people – although other estimates suggest this is higher. It has also forced millions to flee their homes and left some families desperately resorting to eating grass to survive, with famine sweeping through parts of the country.
The fighting has resulted in atrocities including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings, with war crimes and crimes against humanity taking place, according to the United Nations and international rights groups.
