Weve come back from hell: Sudanese jubilant after army retakes Khartoum from RSF militia

The streets of Khartoum erupted in celebration on Tuesday after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) declared the city free from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. 

RSF had occupied much of the Sudanese capital for the past two years of its devastating conflict with the SAF, seizing homes and displacing thousands.  

Following intense street battles, the SAF officially announced its control over Khartoum, sparking jubilant scenes among those who remained in the city. 

Sudanese displaced to other states and refugees in neighbouring countries also welcomed the news, hoping for a long-awaited return home.  

As news of the SAF reclaiming Khartoum spread, hundreds of residents who had remained in the city poured onto the streets in celebration.

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Mohamed Obaid, 40, from Nile East - a former RSF stronghold - described the terror of survival under occupation. “I stayed indoors for days without food, too afraid to step outside,” he recounted to Middle East Eye. 

“I don’t even want to remember those days. You could die at any moment for no reason. 

“If you received money from a relative through mobile banking, it was risky to go outside and collect it - they were everywhere, ready to loot your phone,” he added.

“If you managed to reach a Starlink shop to exchange money, you’d find RSF fighters running the place, seizing 30 percent of your cash for no reason. They controlled all supplies and sold them at outrageous prices.”

'The RSF looted, tortured, humiliated, lashed, and did every possible evil to us. I can’t believe they’re gone'

- Ahmed Suleiman

In the Al Daim neighbourhood, in the heart of Khartoum, 56-year-old Ahmed Suleiman had been trapped in his home for two years, cut off from food and basic necessities.

“We have witnessed unimaginable torture during this period. We did nothing wrong- except that we didn’t have enough money to flee,” Suleiman told MEE, his voice heavy with emotion.

“The RSF looted, tortured, humiliated, lashed, and did every possible evil to us.”

“I can’t believe they’re gone. We’ve come back from hell.”

Emad Hassan, who fled to Cairo when the conflict erupted, told MEE: “It’s unbelievable. The 26th of Ramadan was the same day the war broke out two years ago - and now, on this very same day, Khartoum is free again.” 

“I never thought I’d use this key again,” said Hassan, 37, waving the key to his long-abandoned home in Khartoum. 

Hassan compared his experience to that of Palestinian refugees, forced from their homes but never giving up the hope of return. “They still carry the keys to their houses wherever they go. We Sudanese love our land. We will return. The RSF expelled us in the most humiliating way, but we will come back.”

Sudanese exiles in Cairo and other capitals worldwide have joined in the celebrations, seeing the fall of RSF control in Khartoum as the first step towards reclaiming their homes.

Fighters return home

While many Sudanese have been waiting with the keys to their homes, others have taken up arms, joining the fight alongside the SAF to reclaim their city.

Among them is Amar Sid Ahmed, a fighter who finally set foot in his home on Tuesday after two years of war.

Amar is a member of the Islamist group Al-Bara Ibn Malik, which has been fighting alongside the SAF since Sudan’s Sovereign Council leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ordered the opening of military camps for young Sudanese to defend themselves.

The 35-year-old, originally from the Al-Kalakla Al-Guba neighbourhood in southern Khartoum, entered his home in full military uniform - a sight unseen for the past two years.

Many fighters like him had not seen their families in that time, while others had only visited in secret, fearing RSF reprisals.

“I thank God that we have finally returned to our homes after years of displacement and humiliation, both inside and outside Sudan. We deserve to live with dignity,” Amar told MEE from outside his house in Al-Kalakla.

“Even before the army chief officially declared Khartoum free of RSF, I rushed to see my family. I missed them so much, and they welcomed me with ululations and pride.”

Symbolic return

Two years ago, SAF commander al-Burhan found himself in a desperate situation. RSF forces had surrounded him and his top officers, nearly capturing them as they seized control of most of Khartoum.  

Al-Burhan managed to escape the besieged SAF headquarters in August 2023 using undisclosed tactics after four months of entrapment.

His dramatic exit fuelled numerous rumours - some claimed he was airlifted by special forces, while others speculated that he swam underwater across the Nile to reach Omdurman, where SAF still held territory.  

'Right now, returning is impossible. There is no security, no healthcare, no education, no electricity - nothing'

- Sabry Alhassan

At the time, RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Dagalo and his deputy and brother, Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, mocked al-Burhan, claiming he was merely hiding in the SAF headquarters' basement.

Al-Burhan himself later revealed that RSF fighters stormed his house on 15 April 2023, killing 30 of his men.  

Fast forward to today, and al-Burhan’s return to Khartoum is in stark contrast to his former position. Now appearing confident and victorious, he arrived in the capital aboard a military helicopter, greeted by cheering troops.

His first stop was Khartoum International Airport, a symbolic move meant to demonstrate that the city is once again under SAF control.  

Despite recent RSF drone attacks on the presidential palace - one of which killed army officers and journalists - al-Burhan insisted on addressing the nation from inside the palace.

Standing at the heart of Khartoum, he declared: "Khartoum is free now. This matter is finished." 

Fragile victory  

Despite the jubilant scenes, for many displaced Sudanese, the situation remains too volatile to risk returning home. 

Sabry Alhassan, who fled Khartoum for Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast after the war erupted, told MEE he still fears going back.

“I want to return to Khartoum, but I’m afraid. The insecurity, the possibility of another RSF attack, and the risk of renewed war make it too dangerous.”

Beyond the security risks, Alhassan pointed out the severe lack of basic services. “Right now, returning is impossible. There is no security, no healthcare, no education, no electricity - nothing. The city is heavily polluted, and the conditions are extremely difficult.”

Once a symbol of beauty at the confluence of the White and Blue Nile, the capital now bears the scars of war - widespread destruction, streets littered with debris, and homes filled with tragic stories. Dead bodies of civilians and soldiers alike serve as grim reminders of the suffering endured.  

And despite the SAF’s success, uncertainty lingers over the sustainability of its control. 

The RSF has vowed to regroup and launch further attacks, while fighting continues in the regions of Kordofan and Darfur. Many fear that the battle for Khartoum is far from over.  

The RSF has denied losing control of Khartoum, claiming instead that its forces conducted a “tactical withdrawal” from the capital.

RSF adviser Albash Tibaig stated in a press release that the paramilitary group remains in “top form” and fully prepared to continue fighting against the SAF.

On the same day that SAF declared the retaking of Khartoum, the RSF announced the practical launch of its military alliance with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdul Aziz Al-Hilu. The two groups had signed a political agreement last month in Nairobi, Kenya, with the RSF declaring a parallel “peace and unity” government in the territories it controls.

The conflict between SAF and RSF, which started in April 2023, killed at least  150,000 people in hostilities that have been marked by allegations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings.

Some 12 million have been forced to flee their homes, and over half the population is currently facing "high levels of acute food insecurity", according to the UN.

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