Recent developments in El-Fasher highlight a growing humanitarian crisis with the construction of a significant earthen wall around the city. The wall, spanning approximately 31 kilometers, has been under construction since May 2025, according to research from Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL).
El-Fasher, which has endured a siege for more than a year, currently represents the last major bastion for Sudan's army in Darfur. The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which escalated in April 2023, has led to alarming reports of the RSF targeting civilians.
Recent satellite images identified by HRL show that the RSF has been erecting the berms in the territories outside El-Fasher, solidifying their control in the area while further constricting access for humanitarian efforts. As the RSF intensifies its assault, many civilians find themselves trapped amidst the fighting.
Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan from the Sudan Doctors Network indicated that recent shelling has resulted in significant civilian casualties, including women's deaths and injuries sustained in residential areas. These attacks are seen as deliberate and heinous, contributing to fears among the civilian population.
As the RSF creates physical boundaries, it restricts movement and exacerbates challenges for those attempting to flee. Many civilians express the hopelessness of their plight, caught between dwindling resources and the dangers posed by the ongoing conflict.
Amidst these conditions, humanitarian organizations have found it increasingly difficult to provide essential aid, leading to a desperate situation for the approximately 300,000 inhabitants trapped in El-Fasher. The consequences of the RSF's ambitions for control pose grave risks, as losing the city could grant them full dominance over western Darfur and pave the way for further conflicts across Sudan.
