Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Sunday that they had taken control of the army headquarters in al-Fashir, the last army stronghold in Darfur. A video showed RSF soldiers celebrating at the site, although the army has not commented on their current status.
The capture is a significant victory for the RSF and could lead to a split in the country, allowing them to strengthen their grip on Darfur, where they have claimed authority for a parallel government.
Activists warn that an RSF takeover might lead to ethnic violence, similar to previous incidents. The RSF has besieged al-Fashir for 18 months, conducting attacks that have caused civilian suffering and starvation among the remaining 250,000 residents.
Communication is poor due to a telecom blackout, and reports from those who left indicate they faced robberies and assaults from RSF soldiers.
The U. N. accused the RSF of committing crimes against humanity during the siege, while the army has been blamed for war crimes. Local fighters allied with the army stated they are still fighting against the RSF.
The conflict began in April 2023 over disagreements on military integration during a transition to democracy. Recent discussions involving U. S. and regional officials aim to find a peace plan, but the army-led council denied that both forces were engaged in indirect talks.
With information from Reuters
