Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) say they have seized control of the army headquarters in El Fasher, the Sudanese army’s final stronghold in the Darfur region. Videos shared by the RSF on Sunday showed soldiers celebrating in front of signs marking the army’s Sixth Infantry base. Reuters confirmed the location but could not verify when the footage was taken, while the Sudanese army has yet to issue a response.
If confirmed, the capture of El Fasher would mark a major victory for the RSF, allowing it to consolidate power across Darfur and advance its efforts to form a parallel government. The city has endured an 18-month siege, during which 250,000 civilians have faced severe food shortages and repeated drone and artillery strikes.
The RSF’s assault follows the capture of Bara in North Kordofan, a key link between Darfur and Sudan’s army-controlled east. Activists warn that the fall of El Fasher could trigger ethnic reprisals similar to earlier attacks in nearby displacement camps.
A U.N.-mandated mission recently accused the RSF of committing crimes against humanity during the siege, while both the RSF and the army face war crimes allegations amid a conflict that has displaced millions and deepened Sudan’s humanitarian crisis.
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