RSF of Sudan claims to have taken control of the al-Fashir army headquarters
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of Sudan announced on Sunday that they had taken control of the army headquarters in al-Fashir, the final refuge of the Sudanese army in the western Darfur region of the country.
In front of signs marking the army’s Sixth Infantry base, the RSF posted two videos of its soldiers cheering. While the location could be confirmed by Reuters, the date could not. A comment regarding the army’s present stance was not immediately released.
By allowing the paramilitary group to solidify its hold on the huge Darfur region—which it has claimed as the foundation for a parallel government formed last summer—the RSF would have achieved a major triumph that might accelerate a physical split of the nation: the capture of al-Fashir.
This comes after the RSF took control of Bara on Saturday in North Kordofan, the state that separates the army-controlled eastern half of the country from Darfur and the capital of Sudan.
City of RSF’s 18-month stay
The RSF has been fighting the army, allied former rebels, and local fighters for the past 18 months, besieging the city, which is the capital of North Darfur state.
It has frequently used drones and artillery to attack civilians, and the siege has caused malnutrition among the 250,000 people who are still in the city’s western region.
Following the conquest of the Zamzam camp for displaced people to the south, several activists have long warned that ethnic retaliation assaults would follow an RSF takeover of the city.
Due to a protracted telecom blackout, Reuters was unable to contact people of al-Fashir, who depend on Starlink terminals to access the internet.
UNMANDATED MISSION: RSF COMMITS HUMANITY-DEFEATING CRIME
Despite the RSF’s claims last week that it was helping civilians and fighters who had surrendered leave al-Fashir, some who have done so have claimed being robbed, kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and killed by RSF agents while traveling.
According to a top official in the RSF-led Tasis administration, RSF soldiers are defending a lengthy convoy of primarily male individuals departing al-Fashir. Reuters was unable to confirm the footage’s date and location right away.
During the siege of al-Fashir last month, the RSF perpetrated several crimes against humanity, according to a U.N.-mandated mission. The army has been charged with war crimes as well.
A local activist group called the al-Fashir Resistance Committees said in a statement that the battle for the city was still going on and accused the army leadership of abandoning the fighters in the city to fight alone.
Cars and people walking out of the city were seen in the RSF’s drone footage, which Reuters confirmed was taken over the western side of al-Fashir. These might have been military or citizens, but it was unclear. There were numerous suspected fighters in RSF custody in social media footage that Reuters was unable to confirm.
WAR CAUSES HUNGER AND MILLIONS TO BE DISPLACED
In April 2023, the RSF and the Sudanese army, who had previously shared power, clashed over plans to unite their troops during a democratic transition, sparking the start of the conflict.
Millions have been uprooted by the conflict, which has also caused starvation in half of Sudan and spread illness over the nation.
The United States met with Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, and Emirati officials over the weekend to talk about a potential peace proposal.
According to Sudan’s foreign ministry, representatives were engaging in bilateral discussions in Washington. Reports that members of both armies were holding indirect negotiations were refuted by the army-led Sovereign Council, nevertheless.
