The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed victory with the takeover of the army headquarters in El-Fasher, a pivotal development in the ongoing civil war ravaging the nation.
According to an official statement by the RSF, they have destroyed significant military assets and seized a range of military equipment from the army's 6th Division Headquarters. Authenticity of circulating videos showing RSF fighters inside the base has been confirmed by BBC Verify.
This loss represents a major setback for government forces, especially since El-Fasher was the last major city in the Darfur region under their control, which now leaves the RSF effectively governing the area.
The RSF has laid siege to El-Fasher for the past 18 months, leading to constant bombardments that have trapped approximately 300,000 individuals in dire conditions without adequate access to food or medical supplies.
As humanitarian challenges escalate, widespread hunger and illness have begun to overtake the city, with UN investigators alleging that the RSF has perpetrated numerous crimes against humanity during the siege. The U.S. has gone further, alleging acts of genocide against non-Arab populations in Darfur.
Since the conflict erupted in 2023, following a power struggle between leaders of the RSF and the Sudanese army, more than 150,000 lives have been lost, and roughly 12 million people have been displaced from their homes, delineating one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
While the RSF controls most of Darfur and parts of the Kordofan region, it is anticipated that their complete takeover of El-Fasher will pave the way for establishing a rival government.
