The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed a significant victory in the nation’s ongoing civil war by capturing the army headquarters in the besieged city of el-Fasher. This marks a pivotal moment in the conflict, as el-Fasher was the last major stronghold of government forces in the Darfur region. The RSF announced on social media that it had destroyed large military vehicles and seized equipment at the 6th Division Headquarters, a claim corroborated by BBC Verify through verified videos showing RSF fighters inside the base. The loss of this strategic location deals a severe blow to the Sudanese army, which has yet to issue a formal response. The RSF has surrounded el-Fasher for 18 months, subjecting the city to relentless bombardment and trapping an estimated 300,000 civilians. Satellite imagery from August revealed extensive earthen walls constructed around the city, effectively trapping residents. Hunger and disease have spread rapidly due to dwindling food and medical supplies. The RSF has been accused by UN investigators of committing crimes against humanity, with the US alleging genocide against Darfur’s non-Arab population. Since the conflict began in 2023, over 150,000 people have died, and 12 million have been displaced, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The RSF now controls nearly all of Darfur and much of the Kordofan region, with plans to establish a rival government in el-Fasher. The Sudanese army retains control over northern and eastern regions, but its grip on Darfur has effectively ended. The situation in el-Fasher remains dire, with civilians enduring unimaginable suffering as the conflict escalates.