London – Sudan’s military announced on Friday, (21 March 2025), that it had retaken the Republican Palace in the capital, Khartoum.
This is a huge victory in the almost two-year conflict against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has split the country in two.
The capture of the Republican Palace suggests the end of their control in the capital.
Despite this, the RSF is still fighting in other parts of the city.
Footage circulating on social media shows soldiers inside the palace confirming today’s date.
Soldiers were also praying and chanting “God is the greatest!” at the entrance of the palace as well as showing the extent of the damage and debris.
Sudan’s Information Minister, Khaled al-Aiser, confirmed the military’s success on X, stating, “Today the flag is raised, the palace is back, and the journey continues until victory is complete.”
Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan has made consistent gains in recent months, and this recapture is significantly strategic but not the end of the war.
The army told the Pan-Arab news channel Al Hadith that the RSF had a “limited time period to surrender”.
That said, fighting is expected to continue as the army tries to advance and corner fighters who are still in the south of the palace.
Since Sudan’s war broke out, 12 million Sudanese people have fled their homes.
The head of the UN has said the conflict created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Mass sexual violence and few hospitals remain functioning.
Both the Sudanese military and the RSF have faced allegations of human rights abuses.
However, a drone attack on the palace after its retake killed troops and journalists with Sudanese state television.
The drone attack was thought to have been launched by the RSF.
The Republican Palace, a compound along the Nile River, had been the seat of power during the British colonisation of Sudan
