Sudanese Military Seizes Control of Presidential Palace in Central Khartoum
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On March 21, the Sudanese Armed Forces regained control of the presidential palace in Khartoum, previously held by the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. SAF spokesman announced the elimination of RSF remnants, as the conflict escalates with significant casualties reported.
Key Takeaways
- SAF regained control of the presidential palace in Khartoum.
- The RSF faced heavy losses in personnel and equipment.
- Intense fighting included airstrikes and artillery bombardments.
- Conflict between the SAF and RSF has resulted in around 30,000 deaths.
- The SAF is tightening its grip on Khartoum.
Khartoum, March 21 (NationPress) On Friday, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) successfully reclaimed the presidential palace located in central Khartoum, which had been under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April 2023, as reported by official Sudan TV.
The SAF forces "managed to eliminate the remaining elements of the militia in central Khartoum, including the Al Souq Al-Arabi Market, the Republican Palace buildings, and various ministries," stated SAF spokesman Nabil Abdalla during a televised briefing.
He further declared, "Our forces have thoroughly annihilated the enemy's personnel and equipment, seizing substantial amounts of their arms and resources in these areas."
The struggle for the palace escalated over the last four days, with SAF employing warplanes and drones against RSF combatants entrenched in skyscrapers and government facilities, according to Xinhua news agency. Intense artillery fire and airstrikes resulted in significant destruction, with activists disseminating videos of widespread fires in central Khartoum.
Since February, the Sudanese Army has regained control over most of Khartoum, leaving the RSF with only a few strongholds, including the Jabal Awliya region in the south, which is home to a major dam.
On Saturday, RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo asserted that his forces would not retreat from Khartoum or the presidential palace. However, the RSF has been progressively losing territory in central Sudan, despite retaining control over much of western Sudan and parts of the capital.
On Sunday, the Sudanese Army's armored corps initiated a large-scale operation in Khartoum, advancing north and east to connect with the army's general command located in the city center. This strategy further solidified their hold on the RSF fighters at the palace.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict between the SAF and RSF since mid-April 2023, resulting in nearly 30,000 fatalities, as reported by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and cited by the United Nations.
