On Friday, Sudan’s Army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan was present at the funeral of a journalist killed in a drone attack attributed to the Rapid Support Forces, which also resulted in the deaths of military personnel and journalists from Sudanese state television.

In a significant development on Friday, Sudan’s military managed to regain control of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, the final fortress of rival paramilitary forces in the capital, after almost two years of conflict. Gen. Burhan addressed his supporters in Gezira province, expressing that during this holy month, the army is making steady progress in liberating Sudan. He reassured the Sudanese people of their commitment to move forward and promised that the battle would continue.

The capture of the Republican Palace, which is strategically located among government ministries, served as a major symbolic triumph for Sudan’s military against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Despite this victory, the conflict is far from over since the RSF still holds territory in Sudan’s western Darfur region and other areas. Gen. Burhan extended his condolences to the people affected and expressed his belief that with God’s will and the sacrifices of heroic individuals, Sudan will soon be free from rebellion and threats to its people.

Sudan, situated in northeastern Africa, has faced instability since a popular uprising in 2019 successfully removed long-time autocratic President Omar al-Bashir. A brief transition to democracy was interrupted by a military coup led by Gen. Burhan and Dagalo in 2021. The RSF and Sudan’s military engaged in conflict in 2023. Over the course of the year, Gen. Burhan’s forces, including Sudan’s military and allied militias, have gained ground against the RSF, retaking a crucial refinery northwest of Khartoum and advancing on RSF positions in the city. Unfortunately, this ongoing fighting has resulted in an increase in civilian casualties.