Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces are currently engaged in a final push to quash resistance in El Fasher, a city in Darfur that has been under siege for 18 months. The potential capture of El Fasher by the RSF could solidify a split in the country’s military factions and pose a threat to the remaining 250,000 residents. Concerns also arise regarding reprisals and escalated conflict in other parts of Sudan.
Reports indicate that the RSF has taken control of the army’s headquarters in El Fasher, leading to the detention of fleeing civilians in nearby areas. The International Organization for Migration estimates that around 26,000 individuals have been displaced due to the ongoing fighting. Witnesses and military sources suggest that thousands of soldiers, along with former rebel groups, are encircled by RSF fighters in western El Fasher.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s emergency relief coordinator, has expressed deep alarm over civilian casualties and forced displacements in El Fasher. The situation has left hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped without access to essentials like food, healthcare, and safety. Urgent calls for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid access have been made to address the dire circumstances.
The RSF’s stronghold in Darfur has facilitated the establishment of a parallel government, raising concerns about potential territorial divisions. Analysts warn that the RSF’s control over Darfur could lead to further unrest and conflicts in Sudan, similar to the situation in Libya. The paramilitary group’s recent advances in Bara, North Kordofan, bring them closer to the capital, Khartoum.
Efforts for peace talks brokered by the U.S. are crucial to prevent worsening the existing conflict, which has already resulted in famine, ethnic violence, and mass displacements. Foreign support and interference in the conflict, such as alleged military aid from the United Arab Emirates to the RSF, are hindering the prospects for a political resolution. The ongoing escalation of the war poses significant challenges to achieving peace in the region.
