The city of El-Fasher, the last major stronghold held by Sudan’s army in the western Darfur region, has fallen under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking a decisive shift in Sudan’s devastating 18-month civil war. The takeover has triggered mass displacement, food shortages, and an escalating humanitarian crisis as aid agencies struggle to access the area.

Local sources and humanitarian workers confirmed that RSF forces entered the city’s core districts after weeks of intense shelling and ground clashes. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) reportedly withdrew from several military compounds in the north and west of the city, leaving behind critical infrastructure now under RSF control.

El-Fasher, a city once home to more than a million people, is now a hub of displacement, with hospitals overwhelmed and supplies running out. The United Nations has warned that the city’s fall could push Sudan further into famine and deepen one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

“Civilians are trapped, hospitals are barely functioning, and aid convoys can’t reach those in need,” said a UN spokesperson in a statement from Nairobi. “The situation in Darfur is deteriorating rapidly, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble.”

Conflict Overview

The conflict between the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), and Sudan’s military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, began in April 2023 following disputes over power-sharing and military integration. Since then, the fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 10 million people, the largest displacement crisis in the world today.

Darfur, long scarred by ethnic and political violence, has become the epicenter of atrocities and human rights violations, with reports of targeted killings, looting, and gender-based violence surfacing weekly.

Humanitarian Access Cut Off

Aid organizations warn that El-Fasher’s fall makes delivery of food, medicine, and water almost impossible. Major hospitals have been destroyed or are operating without electricity. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) described the situation as “beyond crisis,” calling for safe humanitarian corridors.

Satellite imagery shows widespread damage across residential neighborhoods and markets, confirming fears of renewed urban warfare and civilian casualties.

 Global Response

The African Union and United Nations Security Council have called for an immediate ceasefire, urging both sides to resume peace talks. However, mediation efforts in Jeddah remain stalled as each faction seeks military advantage. Western governments have renewed sanctions on RSF commanders, citing human rights abuses.

Regional analysts say the fall of El-Fasher could signal the RSF’s growing dominance across Darfur, isolating Sudan’s central government and making peace even harder to achieve.

 What Lies Ahead

With Sudan’s war entering a new and darker phase, humanitarian agencies are appealing for urgent funding and diplomatic intervention. “If the world continues to look away,” warned one aid coordinator, “Sudan could face a famine and displacement crisis worse than anything seen in decades.”