Rapid Advances of the Sudanese Army Against Rebels After Two Years

The Sudanese army announced that it has taken full control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum, the capital, and has also seized the headquarters of the country's central bank. Reuters reported on Saturday, March 2, citing two military sources, about the rapid advances of the army against the militants. Despite the army's statement about controlling the presidential palace, the central bank, and several other key buildings and ministries, the rebels still hold control over areas in the capital. The control of the central bank occurred one day after the army seized full control of the presidential palace, which is considered a significant achievement in the two-year conflict with the rebels who threatened to divide the country. The Sudanese army, which had long been in a defensive position, has recently made advances and retaken areas from the paramilitary forces known as the 'Rapid Support Forces' in the center of the country. These forces have declared a parallel government in the areas they control, although this is not expected to gain widespread international acceptance. The Sudanese army retook an important city 'using Iranian drones' from the militants. The 'Rapid Support Forces' quickly captured the presidential palace in Khartoum and other areas of the city after the war began in April 2023, a conflict that started over the integration of paramilitary forces into the army. Many people in Sudan welcomed the army's statement regarding the control of the presidential palace. Last weekend, the 'Rapid Support Forces' announced that they had captured a key army base in northern Darfur, a region in the west of the country. This conflict has led to what the United Nations calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with famine spreading in several areas and disease across the country with a population of 50 million. Both sides, the army and the rebels, have been accused of committing war crimes, with the 'Rapid Support Forces' also accused of genocide and widespread sexual violence. Both sides have denied these allegations. This war began two years ago when the country was planning a transition to democratic governance. The army and the 'Rapid Support Forces' united after the ousting of Omar al-Bashir from power in 2019 and later collaborated to remove civilian leadership. Sudan and the Islamic Republic had strong ties during the presidency of Omar al-Bashir, but the country severed its relations with Iran in 2016 in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after an attack on its embassy in Tehran following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric by Riyadh, which was resumed in August 1403. Iran and Sudan exchanged ambassadors after eight years of severed relations.