13 Killed in RSF Artillery Attack on Mosque in El-Fasher, Sudan

An artillery attack by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces killed 13 people and injured 20 at a mosque in El-Fasher, where families had sought refuge. The attack followed army advances in the area. El-Fasher has been under an RSF blockade since May 2024, despite being a key humanitarian hub.

An artillery strike by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed the lives of 13 people at a mosque in the besieged city of El-Fasher, according to two eyewitnesses who spoke to AFP on Thursday. One resident described the aftermath of the attack, recounting that, after the shelling in the afternoon, they pulled 13 bodies from under the rubble and buried them. The attack took place on Wednesday and struck a location where civilians had sought safety from the ongoing violence.

A survivor of the attack provided further details about the situation, explaining that seventy families had taken refuge within the walls of the mosque after the Rapid Support Forces entered their homes. He stated that artillery shells had fallen on the mosque, killing 13 people, injuring 20 others, and causing significant damage to part of the structure. The testimony highlights the scale of the human suffering caused by the assault, showing the impact on both the dead and the wounded, as well as the destruction of a place of worship.

The assault occurred a day after the Sudanese army reported that it had seized several forward defensive positions previously held by the RSF in El-Fasher. In their statement, the army said it had captured multiple combat vehicles, though it did not provide an exact figure, and had destroyed six other vehicles, including armored vehicles. The report underscores the intensifying military operations in the region, with both sides engaging in heavy combat.

The RSF has maintained a blockade on El-Fasher since May 10, 2024, despite repeated international warnings about the dangers posed to the city, which functions as a central hub for humanitarian operations across the five states of Darfur. The blockade has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving civilians vulnerable to both attacks and shortages of essential supplies.

In recent months, the RSF-controlled territory has diminished sharply across Sudan as the national army has expanded its territorial gains. The army has made advances in key areas, including Khartoum, White Nile, and North Kordofan states, signaling a shift in control and increasing pressure on RSF-held positions. The ongoing clashes have left civilians in constant danger, with the recent attack on the mosque serving as a tragic reminder of the toll of the conflict.