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Battle for the Republican Palace: Sudanese Army Gains Control and Advances Further
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The withdrawal of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from central Khartoum may signal significant battlefield shifts, opening the door for the army to strengthen its hold on other parts of the capital
After four days of continuous clashes, the Sudanese army successfully stormed the Republican Palace through its eastern gate, securing a strategic advancement in its battle against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The army engaged in intense combat, destroying RSF fortifications inside the palace, allowing its forces to enter for the first time since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023.
Recent images show Major General Mohamed Abdel Rahman Al-Bilalawi, commander of military operations in Khartoum, inside the palace alongside his forces. Meanwhile, the remaining RSF units retreated toward the Arab Market area in central Khartoum, where the army continues to pursue them in an effort to secure the palace perimeter.
In an official statement, the Sudanese army confirmed its success in neutralizing RSF fighters and destroying their vehicles inside the palace, in addition to seizing their weapons. The statement further emphasized that the armed forces had established full control over the Republican Palace and other government buildings in central Khartoum, reaffirming that military operations would continue across various fronts.
Speaking to Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath, the commander of Khartoum operations described the liberation of the palace as a "historic moment," asserting that army forces were chasing retreating RSF elements, who, according to him, were suffering from "psychological and moral collapse." He also noted that civilians would soon be able to return to Bahri, East Nile, and Omdurman, and he anticipated that Khartoum International Airport would resume operations soon.
The military official further stated that the army had given RSF forces a "limited ultimatum" to surrender, affirming that the Sudanese military had now taken control of sovereign ministries in Khartoum. Amid the ongoing battles, the army has managed to reclaim vast areas of the capital, strengthening its strategic position.
However, the RSF quickly refuted the army’s claims, asserting that fighting was still ongoing around the Republican Palace. In an official statement, RSF denied losing strategic positions and rejected claims that its forces had been completely isolated by the army.
The Sudanese army’s seizure of the Republican Palace holds significant strategic value, as it allows forces to maneuver across the bridges connecting Khartoum to Omdurman, facilitating the delivery of military reinforcements, particularly to the armored corps in the south. Additionally, it paves the way for the army to seize key security sites, such as the Central Reserve Police Camp and Taiba Military Base, while also securing control over the Jebel Aulia Dam Bridge—the last major crossing used by RSF forces.
As part of its military operations, the army deployed reinforcements from the southern region on Monday to support its forces in central Khartoum, aiming to make further gains against RSF. Local sources reported that the army is preparing to conduct sweeping operations in ten key locations south of Khartoum, including Sheikh Al-Yaqout, Jebel Aulia, and Al-Naeem Al-Jadeed.
According to sources from Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath, the military operation may witness significant developments in the coming days, as the Sudanese army seeks to declare Khartoum "completely free of RSF forces." This comes after Major General Nasr al-Din Abdel Fattah, commander of the armored corps, announced that the army had entered the "final phase" of its military campaign to eliminate RSF.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, Khartoum has been the epicenter of fierce clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties and the displacement of more than 12 million people, in what has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The warring factions have divided territorial control, with the army dominating the north and east—recently reclaiming large portions of Khartoum and central Sudan—while RSF maintains control over most of the Darfur region (west) and parts of the south.
