El Fasher, September 19 (Darfur24)
Intense clashes broke out Thursday between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, North Darfur, as RSF fighters advanced toward the “Super Camp” southwest of the city, eyewitnesses told Darfur24.
Verified videos posted by RSF fighters showed them driving four-wheel-drive combat vehicles inside the camp, formerly the headquarters of the UN–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Images analyzed by Darfur24 confirmed the presence of RSF personnel in and around the compound, with trenches, tents, and several burned vehicles visible.
The “Super Camp,” located about four kilometers from the army’s General Command in central El Fasher, is connected by a small bridge to the city’s main military barracks.
A military source in the joint force said government troops, alongside allied forces, had repelled the RSF and pushed them back from the Awlad al-Reef neighborhood toward the livestock market.
He added that heavy displacement followed the fighting, with residents of northeastern neighborhoods and the Abshok camp fleeing toward El Fasher University and surrounding areas.
An army commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, denied RSF claims of reaching the General Command, insisting the situation was “under control.” He said special operations had been conducted in the neighborhoods of Al-Nasrat, Al-Shorfa, Al-Qubba, and Awlad al-Reef, with defenses reinforced around the Abushok camp north of the city.
However, another informed source told Darfur24 that the RSF had effectively taken control of parts of Abushok camp, particularly blocks 16 and 17, and were present in large numbers around Naivasha market. He said RSF fighters had also penetrated neighborhoods northeast of the army command, including Al-Nasrat, Al-Shorfa, and Al-Qubba.
Worsening Health Crisis
A medical source at the North Darfur Ministry of Health described the humanitarian situation in El Fasher as “extremely dire,” noting that the military and police hospitals were no longer operational, while the Saudi Hospital was struggling due to a shortage of staff.
The source confirmed the deaths of several health workers, including a nutrition counselor at El Fasher Children’s Hospital, a laboratory assistant at the Saudi Hospital and a hospital worker. Despite the risks, medical staff continue to work under heavy artillery shelling, the source added.
The RSF has maintained a siege on El Fasher since April 2024, in a campaign to capture the city—the last major army stronghold in Darfur—after taking control of army garrisons in Nyala, Zalingei, El Geneina, and El Daein last year.