Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), acknowledged on Sunday that his forces had withdrawn from the capital, Khartoum, following significant gains by the rival Sudanese army.
Dagalo’s admission, made in a speech to fighters posted on social media, came just days after the RSF had vowed there would be "no retreat and no surrender." The group had previously described its movements as a "repositioning," despite the army’s declaration on Thursday that Khartoum was now "free" of RSF forces after nearly two years of conflict.
"I confirm to you that we have indeed left Khartoum, but ... we will return with even stronger determination," Dagalo said.
In an audio message on Telegram, Dagalo—also known as Hemedti—further explained that the withdrawal was a tactical decision. “It’s true that in the past few days there was a withdrawal by forces [from Khartoum] to reposition in Omdurman. This was a collective decision by the leadership,” he said. However, he pledged to retake the capital, declaring, “We will return stronger, more powerful, and victorious.”
Dagalo also dismissed speculation of negotiations with the army, stating, “All those who think there are negotiations or agreements in process with this diabolical movement are mistaken. We have neither agreement nor discussion with them—only the language of arms.”
The RSF’s retreat follows a series of battlefield setbacks. On Saturday, the army seized control of a major market in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city, which had been used by the RSF to launch attacks. While the military already holds most of Omdurman—home to two major bases—the RSF still retains some territory there.
Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed on Saturday to continue the offensive, declaring there would be no compromise. "We will neither forgive, nor compromise, nor negotiate," he said, adding that victory would only be achieved once "the last rebel has been eradicated from the last corner of Sudan."
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis. More than 12 million people have been uprooted, tens of thousands killed, and famine has been declared in parts of the country, according to a UN-backed assessment.
As both sides dig in, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with no clear path to peace in sight.