Sudan RSF claims capture of key El-Fasher army headquarters amid Darfur conflict

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, have captured the Sudanese army's 6th Infantry Division headquarters in El-Fasher, the last army stronghold in the Darfur region, marking a significant turning point in Sudan's civil war. This victory follows an 18-month siege during which the RSF encircled the city, leading to severe humanitarian crises including hunger, disease, and widespread displacement, with approximately 300,000 people trapped in El-Fasher alone. The Sudanese army has acknowledged a tactical withdrawal but has not officially commented on the loss of the base, which the RSF claims gives them strategic control over the entire Darfur region. The conflict, ongoing since 2023, has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and has displaced millions, with the United Nations and the U.S. accusing the RSF of crimes against humanity and genocide against Darfur's non-Arab communities. The capture of El-Fasher consolidates the RSF's dominance in Darfur and underscores the deepening division and devastation across Sudan amid the power struggle between the RSF leader Gen. Mohamed Dagalo and army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Al Burhan. Humanitarian organizations warn of an imminent catastrophe for civilians caught in the conflict zones.