The Sudanese paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a coordinated assault on the war-torn city of el-Fasher on Friday.
This marks a dangerous escalation in the ongoing battle for control of the last military-held city in Darfur.
Witnesses told newsmen that RSF fighters stormed el-Fasher, overtaking the city’s cattle market, Shalla prison, and a military base in a seven-hour clash.
Videos posted by the RSF on social media showed fighters triumphantly patrolling empty livestock yards, some flashing victory signs while wearing belts of ammunition.
It was the first time since the city’s 15-month siege began that RSF forces entered el-Fasher in such large numbers.
While the Sudanese army retaliated early Saturday and pushed the RSF back beyond the city limits, the damage, both physical and psychological, had already been done.
“What we’re hearing is stories of horror and terror and weekly shelling, attacks on civilian infrastructure,” said Mathilde Vu, advocacy manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
“There are local volunteers, they are really struggling, risking their lives every day to try and provide a little bit of food for people who are mostly starving.”
Siddig Omar, a 65-year-old resident of el-Fasher, confirmed the RSF approached from the south and southwest.
While the Sudanese army claimed it inflicted “heavy losses” on the paramilitaries, shelling by RSF drones continued into Saturday.
“One of the shells hit a civilian vehicle near my house resulting in the death of five civilians who were inside the car,” Mr Omar said.
Friday’s offensive marked the RSF’s 220th attack on the city, according to the Sudanese army. The city, once home to a bustling population, has since devolved into a battlefield where civilians are trapped amid relentless violence, famine, and disease.
The RSF also briefly seized Shalla prison and the Central Reserve Forces HQ, intensifying fears of total collapse in el-Fasher, which has become a last stand for Sudan’s military presence in Darfur.
The UN estimates over 150,000 people have died since Sudan descended into civil war in April 2023, with 12 million displaced, a humanitarian disaster the UN has described as the world’s worst today.
International concern continues to grow. Just last week, the International Criminal Court declared there were “reasonable grounds” to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity were taking place in Darfur.
The United States, earlier this year, determined that the RSF and allied militias committed genocide against Darfur’s non-Arab communities.
In Tawila, a nearby town overwhelmed with nearly 379,000 displaced people, stories of horror continue to emerge. Ms. Vu from the NRC said many arrive “thirsty” and “haven’t eaten for weeks.”
“People fleeing at night by foot, on donkeys, trying to escape armed men targeting them, maybe raping them,” she said.
“Right now, we are suffering deeply, and everyone around us is facing the same hardship,” one resident stated.
“There is no bread, no food, and no work to be found. Even if you have money, there’s nothing available in the markets to buy.”
Another added: “Even ombaz is no longer available, as the peanut factories have stopped working. We are calling out for help, please, we urgently need assistance.”
Despite the severity of the crisis, humanitarian aid remains painfully limited. Communication blackouts in el-Fasher and surrounding areas have made the situation even more dire, with only those using satellite internet still reachable.
Ms Vu voiced deep frustration at the international community’s disengagement.
“The funding is completely decreasing and the consequence is that you can see it on the ground.
“People [in el-Fasher] just rely on the solidarity of others. If they have a little bit of food, they will be sharing it among themselves.”
