Sudanese Army Battles Paramilitaries in Darfur City, Heavy Fighting Reported

Strategic Insights -

Fierce fighting erupted on Saturday between the Sudanese army and paramilitaries in the Darfur city of El-Fasher, with both sides trading heavy machine-gun fire and reports of casualties emerging. The city of over a million residents has been under siege by the paramilitaries, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), since May last year. The army has regained control of several key sites in the city, including Shala prison and the Central Reserve Police headquarters, but the RSF claims to still control these areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Heavy fighting broke out on Saturday in El-Fasher, with both sides trading machine-gun fire and reports of casualties emerging.
  • The Sudanese army has retaken several key sites in the city, including Shala prison and the Central Reserve Police headquarters, but the RSF claims to still control these areas.
  • The RSF circulated videos purporting to show its fighters in control of the sites, but the authenticity of these videos could not be verified.
  • Activists said the renewed assault on the city began with heavy shelling on Tuesday evening, which continued all day Wednesday.
  • Eight civilians were killed when a RSF drone strike hit a bomb shelter, according to a doctor at El-Fasher Teaching Hospital.
  • The city is gripped by a communications blackout, with nearly all health facilities forced to shut due to fighting.
  • The United Nations has warned of the plight of the city's trapped civilians, who are forced to seek shelter in makeshift bunkers.
  • Nationwide, tens of thousands of people have been killed since the war erupted in April 2023, and over 14 million have been driven from their homes.

Statistics:

  • Over 1 million residents live in the city of El-Fasher.
  • The fighting has been ongoing since May last year.
  • The paramilitaries, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been led by a military source.
  • Eight civilians were killed when a RSF drone strike hit a bomb shelter.
  • Nationwide, tens of thousands of people have been killed since the war erupted in April 2023.
  • Over 14 million people have been driven from their homes.

Sources:

  • The official news Agency of Bangladesh (BSS)
  • A military source
  • Residents of El-Fasher, including Salah Issa and Mohieddine Abdel Rahman
  • Activists reporting on the situation in El-Fasher
  • AFP (Agence France-Presse)
  • A doctor at El-Fasher Teaching Hospital
  • The United Nations