Construction of Earthen Barrier Highlights Crisis in El-Fasher, Sudan

Tue Oct 21 2025 16:15:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A massive earthen wall is being erected around El-Fasher, Sudan, as the conflict with the paramilitary RSF escalates, entrapping civilians amidst ongoing violence.

Satellite imagery reveals the construction of a 31 km earthen barrier around El-Fasher, intensified by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) aiming to contain civilians. The wall deepens siege conditions, further complicating access to essential supplies for the city's 300,000 residents. Reports of targeted attacks against civilians have surfaced, leading to significant casualties. The situation reflects a grim reality as humanitarian efforts are stifled, leaving the population vulnerable and desperate.

An extensive earthen wall is being built around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher, intended to trap people inside, according to research from Yale University.

From satellite images, Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has documented over 31 km (19 miles) of berms constructed since May in areas surrounding the city occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

El-Fasher has been under siege for more than a year, the last major foothold for Sudan's army, which has been battling the RSF since April 2023.

The Sudan Doctors Network reported an intensifying offensive from the RSF, with civilians deliberately targeted. Yesterday, there was shelling in a civilian area resulting in 24 deaths and 55 injuries, including five women, stated Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan, highlighting the attacks on central markets and residential areas as heinous.

According to the HRL, the RSF is using the barriers to create a literal kill box around el-Fasher. This exacerbates the siege conditions and controls access to the city, where approximately 300,000 people reside.

As humanitarian organizations have been unable to access el-Fasher for months, basic supplies such as food and medicine are critically scarce. Reports indicate that while some civilians attempt to flee, they face dangerous RSF attacks. The situation has become dire, prompting former politician Adeeb Abdel Rahman Youssef to call on the UN Security Council to intervene and protect innocent lives.

The construction of the wall continues, encircling the city more tightly and indicating the RSF's determination to eliminate any resistance from the army division based there. The implications of el-Fasher's potential fall could lead to the RSF gaining full control over western Darfur and fragmenting the nation.