Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces Withdraw from Khartoum
In a significant turn of events, paramilitary fighters from Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) have begun a large-scale withdrawal from the war-torn capital of Khartoum. This retreat comes after nearly two years of conflict, which has left the city in ruins and its residents in despair. On Wednesday, Sudan’s military chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, made a symbolic visit to the presidential palace, recently reclaimed by his forces, arriving by helicopter to declare, “Khartoum is now free.”
As news of the military’s advances spread, jubilant residents took to the streets of Burri, a neighborhood along the Nile. They celebrated by cheering for the soldiers and chanting, “One army, one people.” The atmosphere was charged with a mix of relief and hope as soldiers conducted searches in newly captured territories, actively seeking out any remaining members of the R.S.F., some of whom faced retribution.
The military’s capture of Khartoum represents a pivotal shift in the ongoing conflict, which has been marked by widespread atrocities, famine, and extensive destruction. However, experts caution that this victory is unlikely to bring an end to the war. Analysts suggest that the Rapid Support Forces are expected to regroup in Darfur, their traditional stronghold in the western region of Sudan. There, they have expressed intentions to establish a parallel government and continue their armed struggle against the state.
This ongoing conflict poses a dire humanitarian crisis, and the situation remains fluid as both sides prepare for the next phase of this devastating war.
