Sudan’s El Fasher, a city in Darfur besieged for 18 months, is currently witnessing a fierce battle as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) confront the remaining resistance in the area. The RSF’s recent advances have heightened concerns of potential reprisals against the approximately 250,000 residents still present in El Fasher, the final stronghold held by the Sudanese army in western Darfur. The ongoing conflict also raises fears of escalating violence in other parts of Sudan.

Following the RSF’s claim of capturing the army’s headquarters in El Fasher on Sunday, reports indicate that RSF fighters have been apprehending civilians attempting to flee in nearby towns and villages. An estimated 26,000 individuals have been displaced due to the clashes, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.

In response to the unfolding crisis, UN emergency relief co-ordinator Tom Fletcher expressed deep concern over reports of civilian casualties and forced displacements in El Fasher. He emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in the region to prevent further harm to the trapped civilian population lacking essential resources like food, healthcare, and safety.

The RSF’s stronghold in Darfur has led to the establishment of a parallel government in the region, with key RSF leaders, including Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, currently based there. Analysts warn that the RSF’s complete control of Darfur could have significant implications, potentially leading to partition scenarios akin to those seen in Libya.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has already resulted in widespread suffering, including famine and displacement. Efforts for peace talks remain crucial to mitigate the crisis, as external support and weapon supplies to the RSF continue to fuel the conflict. The situation remains precarious, with the RSF making strategic gains in key areas like Bara, inching closer to the capital city of Khartoum.

As the conflict intensifies, concerns grow regarding the safety and well-being of civilians, with reports of RSF directing fleeing individuals to designated locations for displacement. Eyewitnesses have observed the movement of displaced individuals to nearby towns under RSF control, raising fears of potential humanitarian crises and human rights abuses.

In light of the escalating situation in El Fasher and broader Sudan, urgent calls for humanitarian access and peaceful resolutions persist to safeguard the lives and rights of the affected population.