El-Fasher Siege Continues Amid Civilian Suffering, Drone Attacks, and Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur
El-Fasher, Sudan — Fighting has escalated in Sudan’s besieged city of el-Fasher in North Darfur, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group claimed it captured the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Sixth Infantry base, long considered the army’s last stronghold in the western region.
An RSF spokesperson described the seizure as a “significant turning point” and a step toward building a new state reflecting the aspirations of Sudanese for **freedom, peace, and justice.” A video circulated by the RSF showed soldiers celebrating outside the SAF base, although the exact date of the footage could not be independently verified.
Despite the RSF victory at the military base, el-Fasher’s overall status remains unchanged. Journalists in Khartoum report that SAF forces had already withdrawn from the base and redeployed around the city, meaning the RSF does not yet control el-Fasher itself.
Humanitarian Crisis and Civilian Impact
The city has been under siege for 18 months, with the RSF targeting civilians through drone and artillery attacks. About 250,000 people remain trapped, facing starvation and lack of medical care. UN agencies warn that thousands of children are at imminent risk of death.
Reports from civilians who left the city describe robberies, sexual assaults, and killings by RSF fighters, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing siege. Both the RSF and SAF have been accused of atrocities, with UN experts labeling some actions as crimes against humanity.
Strategic Importance of el-Fasher
Control of el-Fasher would provide a major military and political advantage to the RSF, enabling them to consolidate power across Darfur and strengthen their negotiating position in ongoing peace talks. Analysts suggest the RSF aims to claim representation of all Darfur, securing leverage in any national settlement.
The conflict has already killed tens of thousands, displaced 12 million people, and left 30 million in urgent need of aid, making it the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
Drone attacks continue to threaten infrastructure, with recent strikes cutting power to multiple cities and targeting Khartoum International Airport for a fourth consecutive day, delaying efforts to reopen the facility.
Global Attention
Despite repeated promises by U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene, Sudan has largely been overshadowed by international crises in Gaza, Ukraine, and trade negotiations, leaving el-Fasher’s civilians caught in a prolonged conflict.
The situation in el-Fasher underscores the fragility of peace in Sudan, where paramilitary power struggles, civilian suffering, and geopolitical neglect converge in a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian landscape.