In a significant escalation of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have captured a crucial military base in el-Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region. This development, reported by activists and aid groups on Monday, marks a turning point in the war that has ravaged the country since April 2023. The RSF’s advance has resulted in widespread civilian casualties, destruction of health infrastructure, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Medical groups reported dozens of deaths, though exact casualty figures remain unclear. El-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur, has been a focal point of the conflict for over a year, with its fall potentially signaling a dangerous new phase in the war. The RSF, which originated from the notorious Janjaweed militias, has been accused of systematic targeting of civilians, arbitrary detentions, and acts amounting to war crimes. Satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press and the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University confirmed the RSF’s advance and the damage inflicted on the military base. The United Nations has expressed deep alarm over the humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in dire conditions. The conflict has already claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than 14 million people, creating the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region.
Sudan’s paramilitary forces push into the army’s last Darfur stronghold, killing dozens of civilians
