In a significant development in Sudan’s ongoing civil conflict, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), announced the withdrawal of military forces from El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This retreat marks the loss of the SAF’s last stronghold in the Darfur region to the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The RSF’s capture of El Fasher follows an 18-month siege and has been accompanied by reports of severe human rights violations. Witnesses and humanitarian organizations have documented summary executions, arbitrary detentions, and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure. The United Nations has expressed grave concern, highlighting the ethnic motivations behind many of these attacks and warning of potential war crimes.
General al-Burhan stated that the decision to withdraw was made to prevent further civilian casualties and to protect the remaining population from the escalating violence. He emphasized the commitment of the Sudanese people to hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable.
The fall of El Fasher to the RSF has raised alarms about the future stability of Sudan. With the RSF now controlling all major cities in Darfur, concerns about the potential fragmentation of the country have intensified. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with calls for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent further escalation.
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