Sudan’s military has retaken the Republican Palace in Khartoum, a heavily guarded bastion of rival paramilitary forces, after nearly two years of fighting. The palace, which has been a symbol of power and governance since the British colonization of Sudan in 1956, is now in ruins, with soldiers’ steps crunching broken tiles underneath their boots.
The military’s victory marks another significant gain in the conflict, which began in April 2023, as they have made steady advances under army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan. The rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been mostly expelled from the capital, with sporadic gunfire heard throughout the city on Friday.
The RSF claimed control of a strategic desert city near the borders of Chad and Libya, but Sudan’s military has acknowledged fighting around the area. The conflict has left more than 28,000 people dead, millions displaced, and famine affecting parts of the country.
Sudan’s instability began in 2019 when President Omar al-Bashir was ousted, leading to a short-lived transition to democracy that was derailed by a military coup in 2021. The conflict has sparked allegations of human rights abuses against both sides, with the RSF and allied Arab militias accused of attacking ethnic African groups.
The international community has condemned the violence, with the United Nations describing it as a humanitarian crisis. Al-Bashir faces charges at the International Criminal Court over carrying out a genocidal campaign in Darfur. The situation remains tense, with fighting continuing despite the military’s gain.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sudans-military-retaken-khartoums-republican-palace-seat-countrys-120013921