Sudan army retakes Khartoum palace, RSF fights back

SUDAN'S army announces its fighters have entered the presidential palace in the centre of Khartoum. In recent weeks the army has stepped up its campaign against the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city, which it lost at the start of the war in 2023. Reclaiming Khartoum would be a huge victory for the army and a pivotal moment in the conflict. But the RSF says it is fighting back and claims to have launched an attack on the palace. The RSF also still controls large parts of the country – including much of the west. The two-year civil war has caused the world's largest humanitarian crisis, according to the UN.

Source: BBC News Live Reporting Summary dated Fri 21 Mar 2025 GMT
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y0w7pjnp2t
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BBC Verify has checked video and images appearing on social media showing Sudanese army forces around the presidential palace in Khartoum: We’ve matched the features of the buildings and grounds to images available on Google and visible on satellite imagery and checked that these videos have not appeared before. They show soldiers celebrating and announcing today’s date. Celebratory gunfire can also be heard. The footage also reveals extensive damage to the outside of the palace, as well as destruction inside one of the buildings.

Source: BBC Verify by Peter Mwai published Fri 21 Mar 2025 10:43 GMT

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y0w7pjnp2t

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In pictures: Sudanese army celebrates

Many posts on social media are showing jubilant soldiers waving their guns in the air, cheering and kneeling to pray at the entrance to the presidential palace. Here are some stills from footage that's been recorded:

Source: BBC News Live Reporting published Fri 21 Mar 2025 09:13 GMT

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y0w7pjnp2t?post=asset%3Aada8b5df-4c08-4fe3-9341-0ff9c927ef21#post

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Sudanese soldiers celebrate victory with selfies

More images have been coming through from earlier today of troops celebrating at the presidential palace. The soldiers have been sharing them on social media:

Source: BBC News Live reporting published Fri 21 Mar 2025 12:43 GMT UK

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y0w7pjnp2t?post=asset%3A8aa2af5f-0b61-43f1-a282-b23dc6834056#post

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This is not the end of the war

The taking of the presidential palace and - if it happens - the recapture of the entire capital by the army would be a significant moment, but it is not the end of the two-year conflict. The RSF paramilitary force still controls large parts of the country, including much of the western Darfur region which has seen some of the deadliest violence over the past two years.

Source: BBC News Live reporting published Fri 21 Mar 2025 09:18 GMT

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5y0w7pjnp2t?post=asset%3A8c407307-14ca-4ed5-a201-46a7d97c8c37#post

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