El-Fasher falls and the Darfur crisis escalates
The western Sudanese city of el-Fasher has fallen under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group that has fought alongside and against the country’s regular army at different moments in Sudan’s chaotic civil war. Sudan’s military chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, publicly confirmed the army’s withdrawal from its last western stronghold, saying the decision was taken to protect civilians amid what he described as ongoing systematic destruction and killings. In a televised address, he stated that security forces would retreat to a safer location to shield remaining residents and spare the city from further bloodshed.
The capture of el-Fasher—once the army’s last foothold in Darfur—represents a potentially decisive turn in a conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and forced roughly 12 million people from their homes since April 2023. By taking el-Fasher, the RSF consolidates its grip over all five state capitals in Darfur, with Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, now effectively within its control and under a parallel administration. The move signals a broader shift in the balance of power in the region and raises questions about access to humanitarian aid and the safety of civilians who remain in or near the city.
What the leaders are saying
Gen. Burhan’s statement framed the withdrawal as a protective measure in response to civilian casualties and the alleged indifference of the international community to Sudan’s humanitarian catastrophe. He argued that the army would no longer participate in what he called a landscape of “destruction” and vowed to continue the fight against what he described as traitors until the land is restored to the nation. His remarks underscore a broader rhetoric of sovereignty and national dignity, but they also highlight a stark divide with the RSF, whose leadership has repeatedly insisted it is acting to halt a failed political process and secure regional interests.
International reaction and humanitarian concerns
The United Nations and several human-rights groups have sounded alarms about atrocities in Darfur as the RSF and allied fighters have moved through populated areas. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the situation in el-Fasher and North Darfur, urging protections for civilians and safe passage for those trapped by the fighting. The UN Human Rights Office has warned that ethnically motivated violence and large-scale abuses are on the rise, calling on influential states to act to prevent further atrocities and stressing accountability as an essential component of any lasting peace.
Humanitarian access remains precarious. With the city’s fall, aid agencies worry about the possibility of aid corridors being blocked or curbed, hindering efforts to reach malnourished children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups who have already faced extreme hardship during the siege. The broader Darfur region has endured a long crisis marked by displacement, disease, and food shortages, and the latest military developments risk compounding an already dire humanitarian landscape.
Implications for the war and the region
Analysts say the fall of el-Fasher could crystallize a new phase in Sudan’s civil war, with the RSF asserting a stronger administrative and military presence across Darfur. The city’s capture may alter local security dynamics, potentially influencing negotiations, international involvement, and the distribution of aid. For the Rohing-like, it opens a path for the RSF to assert legitimacy through governorship de facto control in more parts of Darfur, challenging the central government’s writ and complicating any peace process that relies on a unified authority in Khartoum.
As the international community weighs its next steps, the emphasis remains on protecting civilians, securing humanitarian routes, and ensuring accountability for violations. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether a negotiated settlement remains possible or if the conflict continues to fracture into smaller, entrenched zones of control across Sudan.
