Rapid Support Forces Claim Control of Sudan's El-Fasher Trapping 250,000 Civilians Amid Escalated Conflict

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have claimed full control of el-Fasher, the last major city in Sudan's Darfur region held by government forces, marking a significant turning point in the ongoing civil war that began in April 2023. This development has resulted in around 260,000 to 300,000 civilians trapped in dire conditions, facing starvation, lack of medical care, and ongoing shelling, as communication blackouts prevent external aid and news from reaching the outside world. The United Nations and humanitarian officials have issued urgent calls for a ceasefire, safe passage for civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access, warning of a "terrible escalation" and unbearable suffering. Despite RSF assurances of civilian protection, local resistance groups accuse them of atrocities, including violence and ethnic cleansing, while journalists face detention and media censorship. The capture of el-Fasher consolidates RSF control over all five state capitals in Darfur, potentially partitioning Sudan between the RSF-dominated Darfur and southern parts and the army-held north, east, and center. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other officials have also urged countries supplying weapons to the conflict to cease their involvement to facilitate peace efforts.