Sudan’s military declared victory over the paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) after they withdrew from the capital city of Khartoum in large numbers. The R.S.F., which has been fighting for nearly two years, had occupied Khartoum since a devastating war broke out.
Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudan’s military chief, declared Khartoum “free” after his forces seized the presidential palace and began pursuing the remaining R.S.F. fighters across the city. The R.S.F.’s last escape route was cut off when hundreds of fighters fled across a dam on the Nile at Jebel Aulia.
The capture of Khartoum is a significant blow to both the R.S.F. and its foreign sponsors, particularly the United Arab Emirates, which has supplied it with powerful weapons since the start of the war. The fighting has killed an estimated 150,000 people and displaced over 13 million, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Despite the military’s victory, the war is unlikely to end. Analysts believe the R.S.F. will regroup in Darfur, its stronghold in Sudan’s far west, where it has vowed to establish a parallel government and continue the conflict.
The loss of Khartoum also dealt a crushing blow to the ambitions of the R.S.F.’s foreign sponsors. The city was one of the largest on the African continent, and its capture marks a significant shift in the conflict.
As the retreat unfolded, residents cheered soldiers and said they were relieved that the paramilitaries had left. However, there are fears that the capture of Khartoum could bring a fresh litany of abuses from both sides.
The military has already begun pursuing suspected R.S.F. sympathizers and troops, leading to reports of beatings and arrests. The sudden withdrawal by the R.S.F. comes five days after the army captured the presidential palace in central Khartoum, marking a key symbolic and strategic victory for the military.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/world/africa/sudan-khartoum-war-rsf-withdrawal.html