El Fasher, June 29(Darfur 24)
Local sources and eyewitnesses revealed on Sunday that Rapid Support Forces RSF have tightened their siege of El Fasher, North Darfur State, by digging deep trenches surrounding it from several directions.
Ahmed Hamid, a resident of El Fasher, told Darfur 24 that “the RSF began digging trenches on the southern, western, and northern sides using heavy machinery last April.”
He indicated that the forces have closed all entrances except for three gates toward the Tawila Road, the Nyala Road, and an entrance on the Mellit Road, and that these gates are fully controlled.
He explained that the eastern side of the city is under the control of the Rapid Support Forces, but that the trenches have not yet been dug, with the forces fully controlling the exits in the eastern neighborhoods.
Another eyewitness who recently arrived in Mellit and preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons reported that the Rapid Support Forces dug a trench north of El Fasher, near the Mellit Gate, estimated to be approximately 3 meters deep and 6 meters wide, with a single exit through the gate.
He confirmed that entry into the city is currently only possible through this gate, as the surrounding trench is too deep to cross.
Darfur 24 was unable to independently verify the exact dimensions of the trenches dug around the city. The city.
The witness’s account was consistent with that of an eyewitness from the town of Tawila, who explained that the excavation extended to the west and southwest of the Zamzam camp for displaced persons, noting that the “Ridmiya” gate has become the only crossing in this direction.
A circulating video clip of a Rapid Support Forces fighter, verified by Darfur 24, showed the fighter indicating that they had seized a number of animals carrying food supplies on their way into the city. They found no way out and were forced to return to one of the gates.
The Rapid Support Forces have imposed a tight siege on the city since April of last year, attempting to seize control of it as the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the Darfur region, after having consolidated their control over the cities of Nyala, Zalingei, El Geneina, and El Daein in 2023.