Sudan’s army confirmed on Monday its withdrawal from the last western stronghold of el-Fasher after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) declared control of the city.
Army chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in a televised address, stated that he had approved the withdrawal in response to the “systematic destruction and killing of civilians”.
Al-Burhan made it clear he had agreed with local leaders to “leave and go to a safe place to protect the remaining citizens and the rest of the city from destruction.”
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The UN has raised the alarm after reports surfaced that atrocities were being committed by the RSF in recent days, and has called for safe passage for trapped civilians. The RSF, however, claims these accusations are false, insisting they were not killing civilians, reports the BBC.
RSF now taking hold of el-Fasher could mark a huge turning point in Sudan’s civil war, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 12 million people since April 2023.
The capture of el-Fasher provides the RSF with power over all five state capitals in Darfur, consolidating its parallel administration in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur.
UN head, Antonio Guterres, said on Monday that he was “gravely concerned” over the situation in el-Fasher, and condemned the reported “violations of international humanitarian law”.
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Guterres added that the 18-month siege of el-Fasher, and the surrounding North Darfur region, has produced endless suffering, with malnutrition, disease, and violence dominating.
Also, the UN Human Rights Office sent a warning that the number of large-scale, ethnically motivated violations and atrocities in el-Fasher was increasing.
“States with influence must act to prevent atrocities by RSF and allied fighters; accountability is key,” it said in a statement.
In an address, Gen Burhan criticized inaction by the international community to end atrocities, and promised to fight “until this land is purified.”
“We can turn the tables every time, and we can return every land desecrated by these traitors to the nation’s fold,” he said.
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In Sudan, El-Fasher was the army’s last foothold in the vast western region of Darfur. Since May last year, reports indicate that it has endured a worsening siege, resulting in a severe shortage of food.
