What's happened
Since March, over one million people have fled el-Fasher amid intense fighting between the RSF and Sudanese army. The city is under siege, with escalating violence, humanitarian crises, and fears of ethnic atrocities. Civilians are trapped with limited aid, as the conflict deepens in Darfur.
What's behind the headline?
The situation in el-Fasher exemplifies the broader collapse of state authority in Sudan, with the RSF consolidating control over Darfur and the Sudanese army holding other regions. The repeated attacks, including drone strikes and artillery shelling, indicate a deliberate strategy to displace populations and weaken civilian resistance. The UN warns that atrocities, including ethnic violence and sexual violence, are likely to escalate if the city falls. The siege has created a humanitarian catastrophe, with food, water, and medical supplies critically depleted, and civilians facing life-threatening conditions. The international community's response remains limited, and the ongoing conflict risks further destabilizing the region, potentially fueling ethnic divisions and regional instability. The potential fall of el-Fasher would mark a significant shift in the conflict, giving the RSF control over nearly all of Darfur, which could lead to increased ethnic violence and further humanitarian crises. The conflict's deep political and ethnic divides suggest that peace will remain elusive unless significant diplomatic intervention occurs, which currently seems unlikely. The situation underscores the urgent need for sustained international pressure to prevent further atrocities and to facilitate humanitarian access, but the prospects for a quick resolution remain bleak.
What the papers say
The articles from Al Jazeera and All Africa provide detailed accounts of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in el-Fasher. Al Jazeera highlights the severe impact on civilians, including the displacement of over a million people, ongoing sieges, and reports of ethnic targeting and atrocities. It emphasizes the strategic importance of el-Fasher in the broader Sudan conflict and warns of potential fall consequences. All Africa focuses on recent escalations, including drone attacks and shelling, and stresses the urgent need for international action to protect civilians and prevent ethnic violence. Both sources agree on the severity of the crisis but differ slightly in emphasis: Al Jazeera offers a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian toll and political context, while All Africa underscores recent military escalations and the immediate risks of atrocities. The combined reporting paints a picture of a city under siege, with civilians caught in a brutal conflict driven by deep political and ethnic divisions, with little sign of immediate resolution.
How we got here
The conflict in Sudan escalated after the Sudanese Armed Forces recaptured Khartoum in March 2025, shifting focus to Darfur. The RSF has intensified its offensive, controlling most of western Sudan, including nearly all of Darfur, and has declared a parallel government. The city of el-Fasher has been under siege since May 2024, with ongoing clashes, blockades, and reports of atrocities, including ethnic violence and attacks on civilians and infrastructure.
Go deeper
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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe