Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have made significant advances into the central regions of El Fasher, successfully breaching the outer defenses of General al-Burhan’s Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and closing in on strategic locations, including the Grand Market and the 6th Infantry Division Headquarters.
The escalation mirrors RSF tactics observed in other SAF-controlled cities, characterized by prolonged positional fighting followed by decisive assaults on military strongholds.
El Fasher’s defenders, comprised of a Sudanese army division and various allied ex-rebel groups, are reportedly more numerous and better equipped than the forces previously encountered in Nyala, Zalingei, El Geneina, and Jebel Aulia.
This coalition, which includes groups such as the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-Minawi) and Popular Defense Forces, is united primarily by their opposition to the RSF.
Despite inflicting losses on the RSF, this alliance has seen its territory shrink during the RSF’s aggressive five-month offensive.
Recent days have witnessed intense clashes in El Fasher, with media reports and social media videos depicting violent exchanges.
On Thursday, the RSF claimed to have overrun SAF positions near the Grand Market, just 1.5 km from the 6th Infantry Division Headquarters. Geolocated footage shows RSF troops occupying defensive earthworks along the main B-26 road.
The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, monitoring the conflict, reported that the SAF and its allies have lost significant control, now confined to their lowest territory since fighting intensified in May 2024.
The RSF reportedly has achieved fire superiority and has encircled the 6th Infantry Division Headquarters from multiple directions. The lab also noted a troubling increase in gravesites near SAF installations, indicating a significant death toll among SAF and allied forces.
Casualties among civilians have also surged, with reports of deaths from shelling in the central market and surrounding neighborhoods.
Eyewitness accounts highlighted the impact of the conflict, with local vendors confirming fatalities in the market area.
Medical sources reported an influx of wounded individuals at local hospitals due to artillery fire and crossfire from the ongoing battles.
The fighting has sparked a humanitarian crisis, prompting civilians to flee towards famine-stricken areas like Zamzam Camp or mountainous regions controlled by neutral groups.
Displacement from El Fasher and nearby villages has escalated since the RSF initiated a siege in May, but many residents remain trapped in the city, facing limited transportation options and dangerous conditions.
As the conflict in El Fasher continues to evolve, the coming days will be critical in determining the city’s fate amid an entrenched battle for control.
