El Fasher, a city with over a million residents in Darfur, has turned into a battlefield where the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF forces are fighting for control. The clashes began back in May last year and have escalated recently into fierce street battles with machine gun fire and shelling. Military sources claim the regular army has retaken key points in the south and west of the city, including the Shala prison and the headquarters of the Central Reserve Police, while the RSF insists it still controls these locations and the city’s livestock market. The situation is chaotic, with communication blackouts and nearly all health facilities closed. Eight civilians were killed in an RSF drone strike on a shelter, and the total death toll is hard to determine. The United Nations has warned of a severe humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands killed since the war broke out in April 2023 and over 14 million displaced. This bloody battle for El Fasher shows just how far from peace Darfur remains, as the conflict spreads to other parts of Sudan. Think this war is far away? Think again — this tragedy is unfolding right before our eyes, and the world seems to be looking the other way. Who will ultimately control El Fasher? And will anyone survive to tell the tale? Got thoughts or just want to vent? Drop a comment — silence isn’t an option here!
