By Adeyemi Adekunle
The once bustling city of El Fasher has become the latest focal point in the ongoing Sudanese conflict, as paramilitary forces besieged the city, leading to a tragic loss of life.
On Saturday, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a heavy artillery assault on the city, resulting in the deaths of 22 civilians and wounding 17 more, according to local medical sources.
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has been a critical battleground in the 15-month war between the RSF and the Sudanese army. This city, vital for the distribution of humanitarian aid in a region teetering on the edge of famine, has endured more than two months of relentless fighting. The RSF’s aggressive siege aims to capture the last major city in Darfur still outside their control.
The Saturday assault, marked by the devastating bombardment of the livestock market and the Redeyef neighborhood, left a path of destruction. “Some houses were destroyed by the shelling,” one witness reported, capturing the chaos and devastation inflicted upon the city’s infrastructure and civilian homes.
A doctor at Saudi Hospital, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the grim toll. “The bombardment killed 22 people and wounded 17,” he said, highlighting the brutal impact on the city’s residents.
Pro-democracy activist groups have corroborated this figure and warned that the casualty count may rise as more bodies are discovered amidst the rubble.
Despite these severe allegations, the RSF has not issued an immediate response. Historically, the paramilitary group has denied targeting civilian areas, a claim increasingly at odds with witness reports and mounting evidence from human rights organizations.
The humanitarian crisis in El Fasher has reached alarming levels. Since the conflict escalated in April, over 300,000 people have fled their homes in El Fasher, seeking refuge from the violence.
The United Nations has documented this mass displacement, painting a stark picture of a city under siege and a populace in dire straits.
Saturday’s bombardment was the deadliest incident reported since the beginning of the month, when 15 civilians were killed in the shelling of another market.
The relentless battle for control over El Fasher began in earnest on May 10, with the RSF imposing a siege that has trapped hundreds of thousands of civilians in increasingly desperate conditions.
In response to the escalating crisis, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution last month demanding an immediate end to the siege.
The international community’s eyes are now on the upcoming peace talks, scheduled to commence on August 14 in Switzerland, facilitated by U.S. mediators. Previous negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, failed to halt the fighting, which has displaced millions and pushed the country to the brink of famine.
As El Fasher endures another day of turmoil, the humanitarian toll continues to climb. The city, once a beacon of hope and resilience in North Darfur, now stands as a stark symbol of the conflict’s devastating impact on civilian life.
The international community’s intervention and the forthcoming peace talks represent a flicker of hope amidst the darkness, a potential lifeline for a region that has suffered far too long.
