Rapid Support Forces announce their control over the city of El Fasher in Darfur

The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan announced today, Sunday, that they have established control over the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, which is considered one of the most important military and strategic centers in the region, after battles described as "decisive."

A statement issued by the forces indicated that they were able to "completely control El Fasher from the grip of the militias allied with the Sudanese army," adding that the operation took place after a "long siege and qualitative battles that led to the collapse of defense lines."

The statement confirmed that "today's victory represents a pivotal moment in the battle for the liberation of the homeland," noting that El Fasher was a "main center for the army's operations against neighboring areas."

It also pointed out that the Rapid Support Forces inflicted heavy losses on the army in terms of lives and equipment, and that they are continuing to "complete the liberation process until justice, freedom, and equality are achieved in Sudan," according to the text of the statement.

The Sudanese army's general command has not yet issued an official comment on the Rapid Support Forces' announcement, nor has it been possible to verify the accuracy of the control over the city from independent sources.

El Fasher is considered the last stronghold of the regular army in the Darfur region, making control over it — if confirmed — an important development in the ongoing conflict since April 2023 between the army led by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).

This development comes amid escalating battles in western Sudan and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region, with UN warnings of a worsening humanitarian disaster and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians in recent weeks.