Blow with a twist: liberation of Khartoum changes the course of the war in Sudan
The liberation of the Sudanese capital Khartoum has become a key moment in the protracted conflict in the country, the Russian Embassy in the republic told Izvestia. The diplomatic mission noted that the return of Khartoum to the control of the legitimate government destroys the political project of the rebels from the Rapid Reaction Forces. These events are developing in the context of the intensification of contacts between the East African country and Russia. Moscow supports the recognized Sudanese government and consistently advocates the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the republic, the diplomatic mission added. The Sudanese side had previously stated that the countries had come to a full understanding on the establishment of a logistics center for the Russian Federation in Port Sudan.
Khartoum came under the control of government forces
The return of Khartoum to the control of the legitimate government has become a landmark event that could change the course of the civil war in Sudan, the Russian Embassy in the republic told Izvestia. The Sudanese army is demonstrating steady progress, liberating the central regions of the country from the militants of the Rapid Reaction Forces (RDF). The victory in the capital not only strategically strengthens the government's position, but also definitively calls into question the prospects of the rebels.
View of the Presidential Palace after the Sudanese army took control of the building, in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, March 24, 2025
— This is certainly one of the turning points of the current intra-Sudanese crisis. Not only local commentators and international observers believe this, but the rebels themselves admit it," the Russian Embassy in Sudan noted.
The commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army and the head of the country's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said that the Sudanese armed forces had liberated Khartoum from the Rapid Reaction Forces. The capital, where a quarter of the country's population lived before the conflict and was home to an important industrial and transport hub, is now back under government control.
"From the point of view of the local authorities, the liberation of the capital makes it possible to reliably stabilize the situation in all central and southern states, and to move the fighting far to the west — to Kordofan and Darfur," the Russian diplomatic mission notes.
One of the main results of the liberation of Khartoum was the destruction of the political project of commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hamidti), according to the Russian diplomatic mission.
"From the very beginning, a key component of his commander's nationwide claims was the retention of the capital, from where the rebellion began on April 15, 2023, under the slogans of "overthrowing the generals" and forcibly returning pro—Western "democrats" to power," the Russian embassy emphasizes, noting that with the loss of the capital of the SBR, such plans lose all meaning.
The war has come to the doorstep of the rebels themselves, and the SBR, without a clear political program, is rapidly being marginalized, transforming into one of the peripheral armed groups, the Russian diplomats added.
"If they eventually declare an "alternative cabinet" for the vast majority of their compatriots, they will turn into ordinary separatists," the diplomatic mission said.
Armed conflict in Sudan
Despite the successes of the Sudanese army, the conflict in the country remains difficult due to the involvement of external players. According to the embassy, Sudan has become an arena of geopolitical rivalry, and the influence of international forces does not allow us to predict its further development with full confidence.
The army's successes in the capital play a crucial role, as Khartoum remains the political and administrative center of the country. According to the military, the third phase of the campaign is aimed at the complete liberation of the southern, northern and eastern districts of the city, as well as the suppression of attempts by the SBR militants to regroup. The fourth stage will focus on severing the rebel supply routes in Darfur, which should lead to the final defeat of the SBR.
The establishment of army control over the last RDB camps in Khartoum is an extremely important event, marking the beginning of the liberation of the entire province from the rebels, and ensuring security in these territories remains a significant challenge, said Mohammed Hasab al—Rasool, an expert on African and international affairs at Al-Mayadeen.
Former President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir
In 2019, a military coup overthrew former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had led the country for 30 years. Until his removal, the commander of the Armed Forces and the head of the SBR were subordinate to the head of state. Then the reform of the security sector began in the republic, which implied the integration of the SBR into the Armed Forces of Sudan. The desire of the transitional cabinet of al-Burhan to fully incorporate the Rapid Reaction Forces into the national Armed Forces caused discontent among the SBR, which in this case would have lost its share of autonomy. External players, including Western and Arab countries, also had a significant impact. Al-Burhan was supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. Assistance to the Rapid Reaction Forces was reported from Italy, France and the UAE.
Since April 2023, fierce fighting has begun in Sudan between the RB and the regular army. Initially, a significant preponderance of forces was on the side of the Sudanese Armed Forces — the army, in particular, had complete air superiority. However, in the early days, she failed to contain the forces of the SBR, which were actively deployed to the capital, and the conflict entered a long phase. The parties repeatedly sat down at the negotiating table, but it did not end with any practical agreements.
According to the UN and other aid agencies, about 20,000 people were killed during the fighting. In May 2024, former US special envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello said: some estimates suggest that the number of dead could reach 150,000.
Relations between Russia and Sudan
Against the background of the stabilization of the situation, Russian-Sudanese relations continue to develop. Moscow and Khartoum are strengthening cooperation in international organizations, in particular in the United Nations, where at the end of last year Russia blocked a British resolution creating prerequisites for external interference in the affairs of the republic.
"Russia supports the recognized Sudanese government, consistently advocates the preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this friendly country, and calls for resolving the root causes of the crisis by launching an inclusive national dialogue," Russian diplomats say.
An important element of bilateral cooperation was the agreement reached on the establishment of a logistics support point The Russian Navy in Sudan. On February 12, following talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousef Sharif said that the parties had reached a full understanding on the issue.
From left to right: Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Youssef Sharif and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, February 12, 2025
Moscow confirms its intention to implement the project, considering it not only as a military facility, but also as a factor of stabilization in the Red Sea region. The Russian Ambassador to the republic, Andrei Chernovol, previously told the African Initiative agency that although the final decision remains with the military, the appearance of the base could be an additional incentive to attract foreign investment to Sudan.
Thus, in the context of the restoration of the legitimate government's control over key regions of the country, the agreement on the military base can become an additional factor of stability. Russia continues to support Sudan as a strategic partner, and deepening military cooperation can play a key role in ensuring the long-term security of the region.
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