The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it has captured a major military base aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the western city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, as the city endures an 18-month siege and escalating violence.
The claim, made during a tense moment in the region’s conflict, marks a possible turning point in the struggle for control over Darfur and raises fears of renewed ethnic attacks.
RSF fighters announced they had seized a longtime SAF stronghold in El Fasher, describing it as the army’s “last stronghold” in the region. Activist groups warn that the RSF takeover of the city would likely lead to reprisals against ethnic minority civilians, similar to attacks witnessed after the capture of the nearby Zamzam displacement camp.
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Despite the RSF’s announcement, military analysts say the SAF may have withdrawn from the base prior to the takeover. One analyst noted, “what we understand from military sources is that despite the fact that the RSF has taken over the army division there, the forces themselves were not present inside the base itself.”
Meanwhile, the UN-mandated fact-finding mission has found the RSF has committed multiple crimes against humanity during the siege, including large-scale killings, sexual and gender-based violence, looting and deliberate starvation tactics.
El Fasher, home to roughly 250,000 civilians under siege, has faced relentless RSF drone and artillery attacks while supply lines remain cut. Aid agencies warn thousands of children face imminent death amid severe malnutrition and lack of healthcare.
One resident described life underground: “We can only bury people at night, or very early in the morning… it’s become normal for us.” Meanwhile, attackers have reportedly targeted civilian convoys, and those fleeing have spoken of robberies, sexual assault and killings by RSF fighters.
Control of El Fasher would provide the RSF with a critical political and military base in Darfur, enabling the paramilitary group to solidify its claim to a “parallel government” in the region. In the coming days, the implication of the take over of the military base would be visible.