The battles in Khartoum have not subsided, and the eyes of the Sudanese people remain fixed on the fate of the Presidential Palace, which has become the scene of the most violent confrontations since the war broke out in April 2023. After nearly two years of fighting, the Sudanese army announced its recapture of the palace in a move described as “historic.” But what unfolded behind its walls? And how was the confrontation resolved?
How Did the Army Retake the Presidential Palace?
Over four days, the battlefronts around the Presidential Palace witnessed intense clashes before army units managed to breach the defenses through the eastern gate. The attack was executed according to a well-planned strategy that included heavy artillery bombardment and ground advances along two main axes: the first through backstreets under sniper fire, and the second via an old tunnel believed to date back to the British colonial era. On the final night of the attack, special forces units infiltrated through these axes amid fierce resistance from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who had planted explosives in the corridors to slow the advance. However, as military pressure intensified, the rebel forces withdrew toward the Arab Market in central Khartoum, where army units pursued them, declaring full control of the palace and surrounding facilities.
In an official statement, the army confirmed that it had destroyed the remaining forces inside the palace and seized weapons and equipment, describing the operation as an “eternal heroic epic,” with military operations continuing on various fronts. Immediately after the announcement of the palace’s recapture, social media platforms were flooded with reactions, with the hashtag „#PresidentialPalace“ trending in Sudan. While some considered the event a strategic victory that strengthens the army’s position, others viewed it as merely a phase in a conflict still open to numerous possibilities. On pro-army pages, photos and videos circulated showing soldiers celebrating inside the palace, chanting religious slogans and phrases like “The palace has returned to its rightful owners” and “Victory is coming.” National anthems were also reposted, with some comparing the palace in its golden era to its current state of devastation. Meanwhile, analysts warned of a potential escalation in the fighting, especially as RSF forces withdrew to other strategic locations within the capital.
The Presidential Palace: A Witness to Sudan’s History
The Presidential Palace was not just a seat of power but a witness to pivotal moments in Sudan’s history. Successive governments have ruled from it, and regimes have fallen within its walls, making it akin to a “black box” of Sudan’s political secrets. When the Ottoman Turks laid the foundation stone for the palace in 1826, it was a symbolic declaration of their control over Sudan. Initially built with green bricks (adobe), it was later reconstructed with red bricks using the ruins of the Christian Kingdom of Soba, embodying the succession of civilizations and the struggle for power over this land. After the fall of the Mahdist State in 1899, the British rebuilt the palace in its old style to serve as the residence of their governors until the dawn of independence in 1956, when the flag of a free Sudan was raised over its mast for the first time. However, the palace was not only a witness to independence but also a stage for coups and bloody events that changed the course of Sudan. In July 1971, it became a prison for former President Jaafar Nimeiri during a coup led by Major Hashim al-Atta, before Nimeiri regained power and executed the coup leaders. Over the decades, the palace remained a center of political intrigue, where governments fell and regimes changed, reflecting the ongoing power struggle in Sudan.
Today, history seems to repeat itself, but in a more tragic form. The invading armies no longer come from overseas, and revolutionaries no longer raise the banners of change. Instead, the conflict is between the people of the same nation, in a war that has left nothing but ashes and destruction.
What Comes Next?
Although the recapture of the palace represents a strategic victory for the army, major questions remain unanswered: Does this event mark a real turning point in the war, or will Sudan remain stuck in a cycle of conflict with no clear path to resolution? The military victory in Khartoum is likely to usher in a new phase of the war, effectively dividing Sudan into areas controlled by the military and others controlled by the RSF. The military commander, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has shown no signs of willingness to engage in serious peace talks, and the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), appears determined to continue fighting. The RSF still controls most of western Sudan, particularly much of the Darfur region.
Developments in Khartoum could also exacerbate tensions within the military alliance, which includes support from various armed factions—such as former Darfur rebels and Islamic brigades—historically rival groups united only by their goal of fighting the RSF. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further fragmentation and prolonged conflict.
