Sudan’s War Deepens as El Fasher Falls and Atrocities Mount

Sudan’s civil war, now in its third year, has reached an unprecedented level of devastation following the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) takeover of El Fasher, the last major stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur. The RSF’s assault, which began in mid-October 2025, culminated in the full capture of the city after weeks of brutal urban combat that left thousands of dead and displaced tens of thousands more. Eyewitnesses, local activists, and humanitarian workers report widespread atrocities committed by RSF fighters and allied militias, including mass executions of men, forced disappearances, sexual violence against women and girls, and the targeted killing of non-Arab communities, particularly from the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic groups. Satellite imagery and survivor testimonies reveal entire neighborhoods burned to the ground, bodies left in the streets, and makeshift mass graves dug outside the city. This latest wave of violence has deepened fears of a return to the ethnic cleansing campaigns of the early 2000s that scarred Darfur. In El Fasher alone, thousands are missing, with humanitarian agencies unable to access the area due to RSF blockades and continued fighting on the city’s outskirts.

The humanitarian situation across Sudan has become catastrophic. According to UN agencies and NGOs, more than 10 million people have been displaced internally or across borders, with neighboring countries like Chad and South Sudan struggling to cope with refugee inflows. Over 25 million Sudanese—more than half the population—are facing acute food insecurity, with famine conditions already detected in parts of Darfur, Kordofan, and the Gezira region. Hospitals and clinics have been systematically looted or destroyed, and medical personnel are often targeted or forced to flee. In the areas under RSF control, aid agencies report systematic extortion and obstruction, while the SAF’s continued airstrikes—particularly in North and West Kordofan—have destroyed critical infrastructure, including markets, bridges, and fuel depots. The city of Al-Obeid, a strategic target for both sides, has seen repeated aerial bombardments, and civilians have been caught between SAF shelling and RSF ground offensives. Telecommunications blackouts and fuel shortages have isolated many communities, leaving millions without access to information or assistance.

International reaction has been increasingly alarmed but largely ineffective. The United Nations, African Union, and regional mediators have condemned the atrocities in El Fasher as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity, urging both sides to agree to a ceasefire and allow humanitarian corridors. Western nations including the UK, Germany, and Jordan have issued a joint call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and pledged modest increases in humanitarian funding, though the overall aid response remains far below what is required. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts remain fragmented: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United States have attempted to revive peace talks through the Jeddah process, but both the SAF—led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan—and the RSF—commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti)—continue to pursue military victory over negotiation. Reports suggest foreign actors may still be supplying arms and logistical support to both sides, prolonging the conflict.

As Sudan descends deeper into chaos, human rights groups warn that the situation in Darfur now mirrors the darkest days of the region’s previous genocide, with ethnic divisions being weaponized once again for political and military gain. Millions of civilians remain trapped, aid workers have been targeted, and the international community faces growing pressure to impose sanctions or intervene to prevent further atrocities. For now, Sudan stands on the brink of state collapse—its cities shattered, its people starving, and its warring generals showing no sign of compromise—while the world watches another humanitarian disaster unfold largely unchecked.