RSF Forces Storm Sudanese City, Turning it into a “Death Trap”

The Sudanese paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), launched a devastating seven-hour assault on the besieged city of el-Fasher, plunging the region into further chaos. Witnesses reported that RSF fighters successfully breached defenses, capturing a vital cattle market, the local prison, and a military base. Videos emerged on social media showcasing RSF fighters within the city’s livestock market, a grim testament to their advance.

This marks a significant escalation, as it is the first time the RSF has entered el-Fasher in such large numbers since the commencement of the 15-month siege for control of the western Darfur city. While the Sudanese army managed to push the RSF back beyond the city limits on Saturday, the situation remains dire. Mathilde Vu, from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), described el-Fasher as a “death trap,” highlighting the daily horrors faced by civilians.

“What we’re hearing are stories of horror and terror, weekly shelling, and attacks on civilian infrastructure,” Ms. Vu stated in an interview with BBC Newshour. She added that local volunteers are bravely risking their lives daily to provide minimal sustenance to a population on the brink of starvation.

Siddig Omar, a 65-year-old resident, corroborated the RSF’s entry from the south and southwest. He noted that Friday’s offensive was the army’s 220th reported engagement with the RSF around el-Fasher. During the seven-hour battle, the RSF not only captured the cattle market, which had been closed for months, but also briefly controlled Shalla prison and the headquarters of the military’s Central Reserve Forces. Although the army reported inflicting “heavy losses” and repelling the RSF, Mr. Omar indicated that RSF shelling, including drone attacks, continued throughout Saturday, tragically resulting in civilian casualties, including a five-person family killed in a car near his home.

Sudan has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since April 2023, sparked by a power struggle between the army and the RSF. This conflict has precipitated a severe famine and allegations of genocide in the Darfur region. The United Nations has labeled the crisis the world’s largest humanitarian disaster, with over 150,000 reported deaths and approximately 12 million people displaced from their homes.

El-Fasher remains the sole city in Darfur under military control. However, a pervasive communications blackout severely hampers the verification of information, with only those possessing satellite internet connections being contactable. The ongoing RSF offensive follows weeks of intensified artillery and drone attacks, with the group increasingly employing large drone aircraft. The army has accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of backing the RSF, a claim the Gulf state denies.

This weekend’s assault occurred three months after the RSF overran the Zamzam camp, el-Fasher’s largest displacement camp. Survivors have since fled to el-Fasher or attempted journeys to Tawila, approximately 40 miles away. Ms. Vu highlighted the harrowing accounts from those who reached Tawila, describing individuals fleeing by foot and donkey, often targeted by armed groups, facing rape, starvation, and dehydration. Nearly 379,000 people have arrived in Tawila, now grappling with a cholera outbreak and the impending destruction of makeshift shelters due to expected heavy rains.

Residents in el-Fasher have shared deeply concerning accounts of their plight. One man described a catastrophic lack of basic necessities: “There is no bread, no food, and no work to be found. Even if you have money, there’s nothing available in the markets to buy…When someone gets sick, we can’t find any medicine or treatment. There are no medicines in hospitals. The situation here is truly terrible.” Another resident spoke of the complete depletion of even “ombaz,” a residual food source from peanut processing, as peanut factories have ceased operations. “We are calling out for help – please, we urgently need assistance,” he pleaded.

Ms. Vu expressed dismay at the international community’s perceived indifference towards the warring factions and their alleged backers, noting a significant decrease in funding that directly impacts the humanitarian situation on the ground. “People [in el-Fasher] just rely on the solidarity of others. If they have a little bit of food, they will be sharing it among themselves,” she stated, underscoring the community’s resilience amidst profound crisis.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently indicated “reasonable grounds” for believing that war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in Darfur. In January 2025, the United States officially determined that the RSF and allied militias had perpetrated genocide against the region’s non-Arab population, underscoring the gravity of the ongoing atrocities.