RSF Seizes El-Fasher Base, UN Calls for Safe Passage for Civilians

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claim to have seized the army’s main base in el-Fasher, Darfur, trapping hundreds of thousands of civilians. The UN and US have called for safe passage amid reports of starvation and attacks on civilians. The advance signals a continuation of Sudan’s civil war, which has killed over 150,000 and displaced around 12 million since 2023.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) say they have seized the army’s main base in the western city of el-Fasher, prompting urgent calls from the UN for safe passage for trapped civilians. The Sudanese military has not confirmed losing the site, which would mark a significant victory for the RSF in the ongoing civil war.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the escalation as “terrible,” while UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned that hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped, shelled, starving, and without access to food, healthcare, or safety. El-Fasher, the last government-held city in Darfur, has been under siege by RSF forces and allies for 18 months.

Heavy fighting erupted after the RSF captured the North Darfur governor’s residence, and social media footage shows fighters celebrating control of the army headquarters. Local army allies say fighting continues in parts of the city. The RSF has been accused of targeting civilians and surrounding the city with an earth wall, leaving nearly 250,000 people at risk of starvation.

The US has also called for safe passage for civilians and is attempting to negotiate a ceasefire. Analysts say the RSF’s advance signals a continued protraction of Sudan’s civil war rather than an end. Since 2023, conflict between the RSF and Sudanese army has killed more than 150,000 people and displaced around 12 million, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

The RSF already controls most of Darfur and parts of Kordofan, and it has indicated plans to form a rival government in el-Fasher if it assumes full control. Meanwhile, the army retains control over most of northern and eastern Sudan.