Sudanese City of El-Fasher Descends into Chaos as RSF Seizes Control

Violent clashes engulf the city of el-Fasher as the RSF captures strategic locations, highlighting ongoing turmoil and suffering.

In an explosive escalation of violence, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed into the beleaguered city of el-Fasher in Sudan on Friday, engaging in a fierce seven-hour battle with local military forces. Witnesses reported that the RSF fighters, for the first time since the siege began over a year ago, captured key strategic points including a cattle market, a prison, and a military base, broadcasting videos of their occupation on social media.

The city of el-Fasher has been under siege as both the army and RSF vie for control, contributing to what has been described as a dire humanitarian crisis. Mathilde Vu from the Norwegian Refugee Council characterized the situation as a "death trap," relaying harrowing tales of terror, assaults on civilian infrastructure, and food scarcity as local volunteers risk their lives to aid the starving population.

Eyewitness Siddig Omar recounted that the RSF advanced into el-Fasher from various directions. This marks the army's 220th time repelling attacks from the RSF, which routinely targets the city, now facing an intensified assault described by Omar and others as devastating. Despite the military's counter-offensive that briefly pushed the RSF back, shelling persisted, resulting in civilian casualties from drone strikes, according to Omar.

Since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, Sudan has descended into chaos due to power struggles between the military and RSF. The conflict has produced catastrophic consequences, claiming over 150,000 lives and displacing nearly 12 million people, leading the United Nations to label it the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

El-Fasher, currently the only military-controlled city in Darfur, faces communication challenges exacerbated by a blackout. There are lingering suspicions that the UAE is financing the RSF, an allegation the Gulf nation denies. Recent offensives follow weeks of artillery bombardments, with the RSF suspected of deploying larger drones.

The ongoing turmoil also saw the RSF unfortunately take control of Zamzam camp, a previously significant displacement site, pushing many residents toward el-Fasher or further into Tawila amidst rising violence. NRC’s Vu emphasized the plight of people who are fleeing armed groups and struggling to find safety, often arriving in Tawila suffering from dehydration and malnutrition.

El-Fasher's residents are now grappling with acute shortages as essentials like food and medical supplies vanish from the markets. Individuals have shared despairing tales of survival, invoking the need for urgent assistance as the situation grows increasingly desperate, with no available resources to address their needs.

The International Criminal Court has indicated that credible reports suggest war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in the region. The atrocities attributed to the RSF and allied militias have drawn global scrutiny, declaring the ruthless targeting of non-Arab populations a form of genocide. As calls for help intensify, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the crisis in Sudan.