Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) initiated a substantial offensive against el-Fasher in North Darfur, shortly after the UN Security Council insisted the militia end its prolonged siege of the city.

Sudan’s Armed Forces declared they thwarted the attack, resulting in significant losses with hundreds described as dead or injured during the failed RSF offensive.

Among the deceased was notable RSF commander, Ali Yagoub Gibril, with remaining RSF soldiers retreating, the statement noted.

No immediate comment was provided by RSF.

The conflict originated in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), under Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, loyal to General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.

The violence has resulted in at least 14,000 fatalities and displaced over 10 million people, according to UN figures. There is concern over potential ethnic cleansing should RSF capture el-Fasher, home to 1.8 million people and the final army stronghold in Darfur.

This conflict has contributed to one of the direst humanitarian crises globally, with projections indicating that by September, 756,000 people in Sudan will face “catastrophic food shortages”.

‘Rape of our sisters and mothers’

Many Sudanese have taken up arms to counter the RSF's onslaught. Musa Adam, displaced from Nyala in South Darfur, cited RSF atrocities as his motive for joining the SAF to combat the militia.

“The displacement, civilian looting, and the rape of our sisters and mothers drove me to join. RSF took over Nyala, making it too perilous to stay. I joined to return to Darfur and fight RSF,” Adam stated.

RSF's persistent assaults in North Darfur have displaced over 130,000 people in the past month. Reports of mass graves and burnt villages, primarily of the ethnic Zaghawa, have surfaced in the state.

Former RSF officer Abu-Alqassim Mohammed also joined the Sudanese Armed Forces.

“I joined the army at the conflict's onset because RSF rebelled against the government. They opposed both the army and the country, killed civilians, and displaced them,” he stated.

El-Fasher has become a central battleground in the year-long conflict. The fight for the city—vital for humanitarian aid in a famine-threatened region—has persisted for over a month.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that combat in el-Fasher has resulted in at least 226 deaths and 1,418 injuries. The actual death toll is likely higher as the wounded struggle to access treatment amid ongoing air raids, shelling, and ground battles.

MSF Emergency Program Head, Michel-Olivier Lacharite, described the conditions in el-Fasher as chaotic.

‘Need the world to wake up’

The UN Security Council has issued a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid, and adherence to Sudan’s arms embargo, following a previous unsuccessful ceasefire call in March during Ramadan.

On Friday, the United States pledged $315m in emergency aid to Sudan, warning of an emergent famine on an unprecedented scale.

“We need global awareness of the catastrophe unfolding before us,” stated Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations.

She warned of projections indicating that over 2.5 million people—about 15% of Darfur and Kordofan’s population, the hardest-hit regions—could perish by the end of September if the situation remains unchecked.

“This is currently the largest humanitarian crisis and threatens to worsen as the rainy season advances,” she added.