Sudan’s long-running conflict took a dangerous new turn on Friday when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, launched a massive assault on el-Fasher — the last major city still under the Sudanese army’s control in Darfur.

Witnesses say RSF fighters stormed into the city after seven hours of fierce clashes, capturing key locations like the cattle market, Shalla prison, and a military base. Videos shared by the RSF on social media showed their fighters proudly patrolling deserted streets, flashing victory signs with ammunition belts strapped across their chests.

This was the first time since the 15-month siege began that RSF forces entered el-Fasher in such large numbers, sparking panic among residents.

Although the Sudanese army hit back early Saturday and forced the RSF to retreat outside the city, the damage — both on the ground and in people’s minds — was already done.

“What we’re hearing is stories of horror and terror… attacks on civilian infrastructure,” said Mathilde Vu, an official with the Norwegian Refugee Council. She described how local volunteers risk their lives daily just to get a bit of food to starving families.

Siddig Omar, a 65-year-old resident, confirmed the RSF had attacked from the south and southwest. Even after the army’s counterattack, RSF drones continued shelling the city.

“One of the shells hit a civilian car near my house, killing five people inside,” he said.

The Sudanese army called this the RSF’s 220th attack on el-Fasher. Once a bustling city, it has now turned into a war zone, with civilians trapped amid constant fighting, hunger, and disease.

The RSF also briefly seized the city’s main prison and the headquarters of the Central Reserve Forces, sparking fears that el-Fasher could completely fall, wiping out the last major military resistance in Darfur.

Since civil war erupted in April 2023, the United Nations estimates more than 150,000 people have been killed and 12 million displaced, making Sudan’s crisis the worst humanitarian disaster in the world today.

Just last week, the International Criminal Court said it has “reasonable grounds” to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity are happening in Darfur. Earlier this year, the United States determined that the RSF and allied militias had carried out genocide against non-Arab communities in the region.

Meanwhile, in Tawila — a nearby town now overflowing with nearly 379,000 displaced people — new stories of horror continue to emerge.

“People are fleeing at night on foot or by donkey, trying to escape armed men who might rape them,” Ms. Vu said.

“There is no bread, no food, and no work to be found. Even if you have money, there’s nothing to buy,” one resident lamented.

Even ombaz — a simple snack made from peanuts — has disappeared because factories have stopped working.

Desperate pleas for help are growing louder, but aid remains painfully limited. Communication blackouts have only made matters worse, cutting off many from reaching out for help.

Ms. Vu expressed frustration that global attention is fading just when Sudan needs it most.

“Funding is dropping, and you can see the impact on the ground. People now rely almost entirely on the kindness of neighbours — sharing what little food they have just to stay alive.”

As the fighting drags on, the people of el-Fasher and across Darfur continue to face unimaginable hardship, hoping the world won’t look away.

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