General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, has returned to Khartoum for the first time in nearly two years after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured key strategic locations, including the presidential palace and the international airport, from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Upon entering the palace, al-Burhan declared, “Khartoum is now free.”

The military’s offensive marks a significant turning point in the war that erupted in April 2023, which has claimed over 150,000 lives and displaced more than 12 million people. While the SAF now controls much of Khartoum, the RSF remains entrenched in parts of Omdurman, western Sudan, and the Darfur region, where it has vowed to continue fighting and even form a parallel government.

Both the SAF and RSF have been accused of committing war crimes throughout the conflict, raising concerns about the humanitarian crisis and the future stability of Sudan. As the battle for control continues, the fate of the country remains uncertain.