Rebel group claims capture of key city in Sudan
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of the western city of Al-Fasher, a turning point in the civil war said.
In a statement on social media, the group said it captured Al-Fasher “from the clutches of mercenaries and militias allied with the terrorist army.”
This loss would be a major blow to the Sudanese army, as it is Al-Fasher’s last remaining foothold in the Darfur region, leaving the RSF in de facto control of the region. The army has not yet commented.
This came after the rebel group announced it had captured the army’s 6th Division Headquarters, saying it had destroyed “huge military vehicles” and seized military equipment.
BBC Verify has verified the authenticity of videos circulating on social media showing RSF fighters at an army base.
Local pro-military fighters from the Popular Resistance accused the RSF of waging a “media disinformation campaign” to undermine the “high morale of the forces”.
RSF has been surrounding al-Fasher for the past 18 months; army positions and civilians are frequently bombarded. It is estimated that approximately 300,000 people were trapped in the conflict.
In August, satellite images showed a series of large earthen walls being built around the city. aimed at keeping people locked up.
The RSF has been steadily advancing toward the 6th Infantry Division command post, which in many ways has been considered the headquarters in the city for weeks.
Parts of Al-Fasher are still under the control of the army and allied armed groups, but they are not expected to hold out for long.
U.N. Aid Chief Tom Fletcher said on Sunday he was “deeply alarmed” by al-Fasher’s reports and called for an immediate ceasefire in Darfur and the rest of Sudan.
“Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped and terrified; they are shelled, starving and have no access to food, healthcare or security,” Fletcher said in a statement, adding that the intensifying attacks had made it “impossible” to deliver aid to the city.
Hunger and disease spread throughout Al-Fasher as residents struggled with constant bombardment and dwindling food and medical supplies.
UN investigators accused RSF of committing numerous crimes against humanity during the siege. The US said the RSF was committing genocide against the non-Arab population of Darfur.
Sudan has been grappling with conflict since 2023 after the departure of senior commanders of the RSF and the Sudanese army, sparking a violent power struggle.
More than 150,000 people across the country have died and nearly 12 million have fled their homes, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises.
The army controls most of the north and east; Al-Fasher was so far the last major urban center of Darfur held by government forces and their allies.
The RSF controls almost all of Darfur and most of the neighboring Kordofan region.
The group has previously said it hopes to form a rival government in Al Fasher once it takes full control.
Additional reporting by Peter Mwai
