Sudan’s RSF Seizes El-Fasher as Civil War Enters Third Year, Trapping Hundreds of Thousands in Darfur

DARFUR - The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan's paramilitary wing, has seized the strategic town of El-Fasher, with the civil war now entering its third year in a row, leading to the death of thousands of people and the displacement of millions of others.

In a statement, the group said it had captured el-Fasher "from the grip of mercenaries and militias allied with the terrorist army". The capture, if confirmed, would be a huge blow to the Sudan Armed Forces, which could now effectively lose the entire Darfur region.

It comes after the rebel group announced the capture of the army's 6th Division Headquarters, saying that it had destroyed "huge military vehicles" and taken military equipment, BBC reports.

BBC Verify has confirmed the authenticity of videos circulating on social media that show RSF fighters inside the army base. Local pro-army fighters, the Popular Resistance, accused the RSF of running a "media disinformation campaign" to undermine the "high morale of the forces".

For the last 18 months, the RSF has surrounded el-Fasher, trapping over 300,000 people in the process. Several peppers, including medics, are trapped in the strategic town within the Darfur region.

The RSF has been steadily advancing towards the 6th Infantry Division command - widely regarded as the army headquarters in the city The RSF has been steadily advancing towards the 6th Infantry Division command - widely regarded as the army headquarters in the city - from several directions for weeks

UN Relief Chief Tom Fletcher said on Sunday that he was "deeply alarmed" by the reports from el-Fasher, and called for an immediate ceasefire across Darfur and the rest of Sudan.

"Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped and terrified - shelled, starving, and without access to food, healthcare, or safety," Mr Fletcher said in a statement, adding that intensified attacks had made it "impossible" to get aid into the city.

Fighting in Sudan has been a common threat since the ouster of Omar al-Bashir, who was removed after a civilian uprising. The attempts to restore civilian rule have been futile, with the army holding firmly on as RSF fights for a stake in government.

GAROWE ONLINE