Sudan's RSF Claims Control Over Army Headquarters in El-Fasher

The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) says it has captured the army headquarters in the besieged city of El-Fasher, marking a turning point in the nation's civil war.

The group announced via social media that it had destroyed huge military vehicles and seized military equipment at the army's 6th Division Headquarters. Confirming the authenticity of videos circulating online, BBC Verify reported RSF fighters inside the army base.

The loss of the headquarters represents a significant blow to government forces, as El-Fasher is now their last remaining foothold in the Darfur region, effectively placing the RSF in control of the area. The army has not yet commented.

For the past 18 months, the RSF has surrounded El-Fasher, with government positions and civilians subjected to regular bombardment. An estimated 300,000 people have been trapped by the ongoing fighting.

In recent weeks, satellite imagery has revealed extensive earthen walls being erected around the city, ostensibly designed to trap the population inside. The RSF has been steadily advancing towards the command of the 6th Infantry Division from multiple directions.

While some parts of El-Fasher remain under army and allied control, these areas are not expected to hold for long against the RSF onslaught.

Amidst this turmoil, hunger and disease are rampant as residents confront relentless bombardment alongside severe shortages of food and medical supplies. The UN has accused the RSF of committing various crimes against humanity during the siege, and the US has labeled their actions as genocidal against Darfur's non-Arab inhabitants.

Since the outbreak of conflict in 2023, following a power struggle between senior commanders of the RSF and the Sudanese army, over 150,000 lives have been lost, and roughly 12 million have been displaced, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today.

The Sudanese army controls most of northern and eastern Sudan, with El-Fasher being the last major urban center in Darfur still held by government forces. In contrast, the RSF now commands nearly all of Darfur and much of the Kordofan region.

Once the RSF secures complete control of El-Fasher, they plan to establish a rival government to assert their dominance further.