RSF Claims Seizure of Sudanese Army’s Last Base in Darfur as El Fasher Falls After 18-Month Siege

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) say they have captured the army’s main base in El Fasher, the last government stronghold in the war-torn Darfur region — a major turning point that could cement the country’s division.

Videos posted online by the RSF on Sunday show jubilant fighters celebrating in front of the Sixth Infantry Division headquarters. Reuters confirmed the location but could not verify when the footage was filmed. The Sudanese army has not yet commented on the claim.

El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, has endured an 18-month siege by the RSF, which has used drone and artillery strikes that killed and starved civilians trapped inside. Humanitarian agencies estimate that about 250,000 people remain in the city, many facing severe hunger.

The RSF announced the capture just a day after taking Bara, a strategic city in North Kordofan that separates Darfur from Sudan’s army-controlled eastern regions — a move analysts say could speed up the country’s physical split.

Local activist groups have accused both the RSF and the army of war crimes. The UN-mandated Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan said last month that the RSF committed crimes against humanity during its siege of El Fasher, while the army has also been accused of targeting civilians

Although the RSF claimed it was allowing civilians and surrendered soldiers to leave safely, survivors told aid workers of kidnappings, robberies, sexual assaults, and killings along the escape routes.

Drone footage verified by Reuters showed crowds leaving the western side of the city, though it was unclear whether they were soldiers or civilians. Other unverified videos circulating on social media appear to show dozens of captured fighters.

The fall of El Fasher would give the RSF total control over the vast Darfur region, where it has already declared a rival government. Analysts warn this could accelerate Sudan’s fragmentation after 18 months of brutal civil war.

The conflict began in April 2023 when the army and RSF — once partners in Sudan’s transitional government — clashed over control and military integration. Since then, millions have been displaced, half the population faces hunger, and disease outbreaks have worsened.

Over the weekend, the United States hosted officials from Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia in Washington to push for a possible peace deal. However, Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, led by the army, denied reports of indirect talks with the RSF.