‘We’ve come back from hell’: Sudanese jubilant after army retakes Khartoum from RSF militia

Celebrations erupted on the streets of Khartoum on Tuesday after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced the city had been liberated from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. The RSF had seized large parts of the Sudanese capital during its devastating two-year conflict with the SAF, seizing homes and displacing thousands. Following intense street battles, the SAF officially declared control of Khartoum, sparking scenes of jubilation among residents who remained in the city.

Sudanese people displaced to other states and refugees in neighboring countries also welcomed the news, hoping for a long-awaited return to their homes. As news of the SAF's recapture of Khartoum spread, hundreds of residents who remained in the city poured into the streets to celebrate. Mohammed Obeid, 40, from east Nile - formerly an RSF stronghold - described the horror of surviving under occupation. "I stayed indoors for days without food, too scared to go out," he recounted to Middle East Eye.

Ahmed Suleiman, who lives in the Al Daim neighborhood in central Khartoum, was trapped in his home for two years, cut off from food and basic necessities. "We witnessed unimaginable torment during that time. We did nothing wrong, only we didn't have enough money to escape," Suleiman emotionally told Middle East Eye. "The RSF robbed, tortured, humiliated, flogged, and did every bad thing possible to us."

Emad Hassan, who fled to Cairo when the conflict erupted, told Middle East Eye: "It's unbelievable. The 26th of Ramadan was the same day the war broke out two years ago, and now, on the same day, Khartoum is free again." Hassan, 37, waved the keys to his long-abandoned Khartoum home, saying: "I never thought I would use this key again." Hassan compared his experience to that of Palestinian refugees, who were forced from their homes but never gave up hope of return. "They still carry the keys to their houses. We Sudanese love our land. We will return. The RSF expelled us in the most humiliating way, but we will return."

While many Sudanese have been waiting for the keys to their homes, others have taken up arms, fighting alongside the SAF to reclaim their city. Among them is Amar Sid Ahmed, a fighter who finally set foot on his home soil 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 the head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ordered military camps to be opened for young Sudanese men to defend themselves. The 35-year-old, originally from the Al-Kalakla Al-Guba neighborhood in southern Khartoum, entered his home in full military uniform, a sight unseen for the past two years.

Two years ago, SAF commander Burhan found himself in dire straits. The RSF had surrounded him and his senior officers, nearly capturing them as they seized control of large parts of Khartoum. Burhan escaped the besieged SAF headquarters in August 2023, after being trapped for four months, using undisclosed tactics. His dramatic escape sparked numerous rumors, with some claiming he was airlifted by special forces, while others speculated that he swam across the Nile to Omdurman, territory still controlled by the SAF. Fast forward to today, and Burhan's return to Khartoum is a stark contrast to his previous predicament. Now, he appears confident and victorious, arriving in the capital by military helicopter, greeted by cheering troops.

Despite the scenes of jubilation, the situation remains too volatile for many displaced Sudanese to risk returning home. Sabri al-Hassan, who fled Khartoum for Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast after the war broke out, told Middle East Eye that he is still afraid to go back. "I want to return to Khartoum, but I am afraid. The insecurity, the possibility of another RSF attack, and the risk of war breaking out again are too dangerous." In addition to security risks, al-Hassan pointed to the severe lack of basic services. "Right now, it is impossible to return. There is no security, no healthcare, no education, no electricity, nothing. The city is polluted, and the conditions are extremely poor."

Despite the SAF's success, uncertainty remains about the sustainability of its control. The RSF has vowed to regroup and launch further attacks, and fighting continues in the Kordofan and Darfur regions. Many fear that the battle for Khartoum is far from over. The RSF has denied losing control of Khartoum, instead claiming its forces conducted a "tactical retreat" from the capital. RSF advisor Albash Tibaq said in a press release that the paramilitary group remained in "good condition" and was fully prepared to continue fighting the SAF. On the same day that the SAF announced its recapture of Khartoum, the RSF announced the formal launch of a military alliance with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu. The two groups signed a political agreement in Nairobi, Kenya, last month, and the RSF announced the formation of a parallel "peace and unity" government in the territories under its control.

The conflict between the SAF and the RSF began in April 2023 and has left at least 150,000 people dead amid accusations of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, including mass rape and ethnically motivated killings. According to the UN, approximately 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, and more than half the population is now facing "high levels of acute food insecurity."