In a pivotal development in Sudan's protracted civil conflict, state television announced on Thursday that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are on the verge of retaking the Presidential Palace in Khartoum from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The RSF had swiftly seized control of the palace and much of the capital at the war's outset in April 2023. However, recent months have seen the SAF gradually advancing along the Nile, edging closer to this strategic stronghold.

Witnesses reported intense clashes near the palace late Wednesday, with explosions and army airstrikes targeting central Khartoum.

The RSF continues to hold portions of Khartoum, neighboring Omdurman, and western regions like Darfur, where they are battling for control of al-Fashir, the army's last bastion in the area.

The potential recapture of the capital by the SAF could expedite their consolidation of central Sudan, deepening the nation's east-west divide between the warring factions. Both sides remain resolute in their military pursuits, with peace negotiations yet to materialize.

The conflict, ignited by a power struggle ahead of a planned transition to civilian governance, has precipitated a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale. The United Nations highlights widespread famine and disease, with both factions facing allegations of war crimes and, in the RSF's case, genocide—charges both deny.

As the battle for the Presidential Palace intensifies, the prospect of a peaceful resolution remains elusive, casting a shadow over Sudan's future stability.