Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Sunday that they have captured the army headquarters in the strategic city of Al-Fashir, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region.
The city has been under siege for 18 months, with the RSF targeting civilians with frequent drone and artillery strikes, leading to widespread starvation and displacement. Over 250,000 people remain in the city, while more than one million have fled since the start of the siege.
The capture of Al-Fashir’s army headquarters would be a significant victory for the RSF, enabling them to consolidate control over the vast Darfur region and potentially hasten a physical split of the country. Activists have warned of ethnic attacks and humanitarian crises if the RSF takes full control.
The RSF’s actions in Al-Fashir have been marked by brutality, with reports of robberies, sexual assaults, and killings of civilians attempting to flee.
The Sudanese army has not yet commented on the situation, but the RSF’s claims have raised concerns about the humanitarian toll and potential war crimes. The conflict in Sudan has displaced millions and left tens of thousands dead, making it one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
