RSF's Offensive in El-Fasher: A City on the Brink of Despair

As the Rapid Support Forces captured key sites in el-Fasher, including a cattle market and a prison, the city's residents endure severe shortages and ongoing violence, amidst a humanitarian crisis that has claimed countless lives.

The Sudanese paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) executed a major offensive in the beleaguered city of el-Fasher on Friday, clashing with military forces in a brutal confrontation that persisted for over seven hours. Witnesses confirmed to the BBC that RSF fighters seized control of crucial locations in the city, such as a cattle market, a prison, and a military base, sharing videos on social media that depicted them wandering through desolate stockyards.

This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing siege of el-Fasher, which has seen continuous skirmishes over the past 15 months. Despite the RSF’s temporary gains, Sudan's armed forces retaliated the following day, managing to repel the paramilitary group from the city limits, reportedly inflicting considerable casualties on the RSF during the counteroffensive. However, shelling and drone strikes by the RSF continued, leading to civilian casualties, including a tragic incident where five civilians were killed by an RSF drone strike on a vehicle.

Since the onset of civil war in April 2023, sparked by a fierce power struggle between the army and the RSF, the situation in Sudan has deteriorated drastically, with more than 150,000 fatalities reported and 12 million individuals displaced. The ongoing conflict has attracted international concern, with the United Nations denouncing it as the world's most severe humanitarian crisis.

El-Fasher remains uniquely positioned, as it is currently the only city in Darfur under military control. However, communication difficulties due to blackouts hinder the flow of information from the besieged area, leaving residents vulnerable and isolated. Accounts reported by local inhabitants reveal a grim reality, with food scarcity and lack of medical supplies being prevalent. Mathilde Vu from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) emphasized the harrowing conditions, describing local volunteers risking their lives daily to procure food for a population struggling against starvation.

The RSF's recent offensive follows their prior takeover of the Zamzam displacement camp near el-Fasher, intensifying an already critical situation for displaced individuals seeking refuge. Reports from Tawila, a nearby town where displaced people have fled, indicate severe living conditions exacerbated by cholera outbreaks and inadequate shelter. Residents live in fear, fleeing attacks while facing food shortages so severe that traditional food sources have been depleted.

Despite the increasing humanitarian needs, aid and attention from the international community have shown noticeable declines, as highlighted by NRC representatives. The lack of engagement with key stakeholders in the conflict exacerbates the dire conditions on the ground.

Amidst this turmoil, the International Criminal Court has indicated a likelihood of war crimes and crimes against humanity being perpetrated in Darfur. Allegations persist regarding the RSF and its allied militias committing genocidal acts against non-Arab populations in the region. The complex and tragic situation in Sudan demands urgent action and humanitarian support, as the population of el-Fasher and beyond grapple with challenges of survival against a backdrop of violence and despair.