Sudan’s army has pledged to intensify its military campaign against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and secure the country’s borders, following the recent capture of key strategic positions by the paramilitary group in North Darfur.
Speaking on Monday, Sovereign Council Chairman and Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed that government forces would “avenge those who were killed” in El Fasher, Al Junaynah, Al Jazirah, and other regions that have witnessed heavy fighting since the conflict erupted in April 2023.
His remarks come shortly after RSF fighters announced on October 26 that they had taken control of the headquarters of the Sudanese army’s 6th Infantry Division in El Fasher, a city that had served as the largest remaining government stronghold in North Darfur. The battle for El Fasher stretched across a year and a half, marking one of the longest and most destructive confrontations in the ongoing war.
A Sudanese official said that the death toll in El Fasher has climbed to at least 2,200 people since the city came under RSF control, with humanitarian agencies warning of worsening conditions for civilians trapped by the violence.
El Fasher has long been a critical humanitarian hub in Darfur, and its fall has fueled concern about mass displacement, shortages of food and medical supplies, and escalating ethnic tensions.
The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has expanded its influence across several regions of Sudan over the past year, while the army continues to hold key positions in the eastern and northern parts of the country. Diplomatic efforts led by African and international mediators have so far failed to produce a lasting ceasefire.
Al-Burhan said the military remains committed to restoring territorial control and safeguarding Sudan’s sovereignty, but analysts warn that both sides appear locked in a prolonged struggle with no immediate end in sight.
Humanitarian organizations are urging renewed international pressure to protect civilians and ensure aid access to affected areas, describing the situation as one of the world’s most severe and underreported crises.
