Sudanese army troops celebrate after regaining control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum on Friday. Reuters
Sudanese army troops celebrate after regaining control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum on Friday. Reuters
Sudanese army troops celebrate after regaining control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum on Friday. Reuters
Sudanese army troops celebrate after regaining control of the presidential palace in central Khartoum on Friday. Reuters

Sudan's army retakes presidential palace after fierce battle in central Khartoum


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Sudan's army and allied forces retook the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum on Friday, in a major and symbolically significant victory against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that had seized the Nile-side complex days after the war broke out two years ago.

The RSF issued a statement acknowledging it had lost control of the Republican Palace but insisted the battle was not yet over.

The latest victory by the army and allied volunteers adds a milestone to their offensive in the capital after significant battlefield gains in recent months in Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman – the three Nile-side cities that make up the capital's greater region.

The capital's only major facility that remains in RSF hands is its international airport, where snipers stationed on top of buildings nearby pose a major challenge to any bid to retake it.

The RSF continues to control parts of the three cities, where its fighters have long embedded themselves deep in residential areas, making army advances both costly and slow. It also remains in control of some dozen neighbourhoods in Omdurman and Khartoum.

Our forces today capped its battlefield successes in Khartoum by crushing Dagalo's terrorist militia in central Khartoum, the Araby market and the presidential palace
Sudanese army

The paramilitary force also controls most of the western Darfur region, its birthplace, and large swathes of Kordofan, to the south-west. Its foray into central Sudan south of the capital proved ill-advised, with the army and allied forces throwing them out of that region in late 2024.

While retaking the entire capital from the RSF would be a huge boost for the army, it could also signal the country's de facto partition, with the army and its allies in control of Khartoum, northern, central and eastern Sudan and the RSF holding sway in the vast, arid west.

A Sudanese soldier offers a prayer of thanks after the army retook the presidential palace, in the background, in Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. AFP
A Sudanese soldier offers a prayer of thanks after the army retook the presidential palace, in the background, in Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. AFP

The RSF tightened its control of the west on Thursday when it claimed to have seized Al Maliha, a strategic desert city in North Darfur near the borders of Chad and Libya. Sudan’s military has acknowledged fighting around Al Maliha but has not said it lost the city.

Al Maliha is around 200km north of El Fasher, a city still held by the Sudanese military despite daily attacks by the RSF whose fighters are besieging it. It's the only major city in Darfur not controlled by the RSF.

Shortly after the troops and volunteers seized the palace, a suicide drone hit the site, killing a three-man army media team led by a lieutenant colonel as well as three members of a Sudanese television crew, according to witnesses. They said there were more casualties, but they had no details. Authorities have acknowledged the death of the television crew but not the military media team.

The RSF said its fighters launched a "lightning military operation" that targeted troops and volunteers inside the palace complex, "killing 89 of them".

"The battle for the Republican Palace is not over yet and our valiant forces remain in its vicinity, fighting with courage and determination," it said.

Sudan's Army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, right, and Rapid Support Forces commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo. AFP
Sudan's Army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, right, and Rapid Support Forces commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo. AFP

Friday's victory came less than a week after RSF commander Gen Mohamed Dagalo posted a video online in which he vowed never to allow the army to retake the palace and threatened to launch a major offensive against it on March 17, the anniversary of the founding of the paramilitary force.

“In an immortal heroic epic, our forces today capped its battlefield successes in Khartoum by crushing Dagalo's terrorist militia in central Khartoum, the Araby market and the presidential palace – the Sudanese nation's symbol of sovereignty and dignity – as well as the ministries,” an army statement said.

“We gift our patient people of Sudan these victories and emphasise that we will continue to push on all battle fronts until victory is complete and every square inch of our country is purged from the defilement of the militia and its supporters,” it said.

A satellite picture of the presidential palace in Khartoum, taken on March 15. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via AP
A satellite picture of the presidential palace in Khartoum, taken on March 15. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via AP

Videos widely shared online showed jubilant army soldiers and volunteers cheering on the grounds of the presidential palace.

“Today the flag is raised, the palace is back and the journey continues until victory is complete,” Sudan’s Information Minister, Khaled Al Aiser, said in a post on X.

The recapture of the palace followed days of intense fighting in central Khartoum around the palace and the Al Araby market – the city's largest retail market – as well as nearby government ministries.

The war between Gen Dagalo's RSF and the army, led by Sudan's de facto leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, broke out after months of tension between them over control of the vast and resource-rich nation.

The war has claimed the lives of tens of thousands and displaced more than 12 million people. It has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, leaving about 26 million people – more than half the population – facing acute hunger. Pockets of famine have also surfaced across much of the Afro-Arab nation, with about eight million people deemed on the brink of famine, the UN estimates.

About Takalam

Date started: early 2020

Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech and wellness

Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped

A little about CVRL

Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.

One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases. 

The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery. 

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

Developer: Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft Toronto
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
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Specs

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Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

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The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ronaldo's record at Man Utd

Seasons 2003/04 - 2008/09

Appearances 230

Goals 115

Essentials

The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Los Angeles, from Dh4,975 return, including taxes. The flight time is 16 hours. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Aeromexico and Southwest all fly direct from Los Angeles to San Jose del Cabo from Dh1,243 return, including taxes. The flight time is two-and-a-half hours.

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Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic’s eight-day Whales Wilderness itinerary costs from US$6,190 (Dh22,736) per person, twin share, including meals, accommodation and excursions, with departures in March and April 2018.

 

RESULTS

Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
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Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
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Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
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Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
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Omar Yabroudi's factfile

Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah

Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University

2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship

2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy

2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment

2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment

2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager

 

 

 

 

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
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Dust and sand storms compared

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Dust storm

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Know your Camel lingo

The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home

Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless

Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers

Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s

Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival

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6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres

7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m

7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m

8.15pm: UAE Oaks | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m

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9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8

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5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Nadhra, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Dars, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: AF Musannef, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: AF Taghzel, Malin Holmberg, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: M’Y Yaromoon, Khalifa Al Neyadi, Jesus Rosales

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m; Winner: Hakeem, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe

The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler

Price, base / as tested Dh57,000

Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine

Transmission Six-speed gearbox

Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm

Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km

Company profile

Company name: Dharma

Date started: 2018

Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: TravelTech

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people 

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Updated: March 21, 2025, 1:47 PM`