In brief
As Sudan's military forces recapture key locations, a glimpse into the devastation underscores the ongoing conflict's toll
In the wake of fierce fighting that has defined the ongoing civil war in Sudan, military forces have recently made significant advances in the capital, Khartoum. A New York Times team, being the first Western journalists to enter the city center since the conflict began in April 2023, provided insights into the substantial losses inflicted on the area.Just days after the military secured the presidential palace, soldiers were seen amassing at the site, preparing for operations aimed at dismantling the remaining resistance from paramilitary groups that have been a formidable presence in the conflict. The military’s recent victories include the capture of vital installations such as the Central Bank and the national intelligence headquarters.Eyewitness accounts from the journalists reveal a stark reality, indicating that the war's trajectory has turned slightly in favor of the military, yet there is little indication of a swift resolution to the violence. "We will never leave our country to the mercenaries," stated Mohamed Ibrahim, a special forces officer, highlighting the deep-seated rivalry with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) that generated this brutal conflict.The contrasts displayed in Khartoum's war-torn landscape provide a haunting reminder of the toll the conflict has taken, yet hope for peace remains elusive as both sides respond to the evolving dynamics on the ground.
