Synopsis
Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council leader, announced 'Khartoum is free' from the RSF's control. This marks significant military victories for the Sudanese Armed Forces. The ongoing conflict has resulted in immense casualties and displacement.Key Takeaways
- Al-Burhan declares Khartoum liberated.
- SAF retakes key locations from RSF.
- Conflict has led to significant loss of life.
- Over 15 million displaced due to fighting.
- Military operations continue to shift power dynamics.
Khartoum, March 27 (NationPress) Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council and leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), announced from within the Presidential Palace in Khartoum that "Khartoum is liberated," indicating the conclusion of the Rapid Support Forces' dominance over the capital, as reported by Sudan TV.
Al-Burhan stated, "Khartoum is liberated, and the situation is resolved," during a concise speech on Wednesday, praising the Sudanese army personnel and allied forces who engaged in "intense battles" to dislodge the RSF and secure vital state institutions.
Footage aired by Sudan TV depicted Al-Burhan traversing the Presidential Palace while flanked by officers and soldiers from the military unit responsible for guarding the palace.
As per a press release from the sovereign council's media office, Al-Burhan arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday via helicopter, marking the first aircraft to arrive at Khartoum International Airport since the conflict began in April 2023. He subsequently inspected military units securing the airport before heading to the Presidential Palace.
Earlier that day, the SAF declared that it had regained control of Khartoum International Airport, which had been under RSF control since mid-April 2023, in addition to the paramilitary forces' final significant stronghold in the capital—the Taiba Al-Hasanab camp in Jabal Awliya city, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Since the beginning of 2024, the army has achieved substantial territorial advancements, particularly in Omdurman, located north of Khartoum, reclaiming Greater Omdurman and altering the power dynamics to its advantage. A large-scale military campaign initiated in late September, bolstered by airstrikes, enabled the SAF to regain portions of central Khartoum and western Bahri.
Beyond the capital, the army reasserted control over most of Sinnar State in early October and captured Wad Madani, the capital of Gezira State, on January 11. Nonetheless, several smaller towns continue to remain under RSF control.
On Friday, it was reported that the army had reestablished control over the Presidential Palace and significant government offices in central Khartoum, a key bastion of the RSF in the capital.
Sudan has been engulfed in a catastrophic conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has resulted in the loss of at least 29,683 lives, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring group referenced by the United Nations.
The ongoing conflict has displaced over 15 million individuals, both internally and externally, based on estimates from the International Organization for Migration.
