Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have announced a major battlefield success, claiming on Sunday, October 26, 2025, that they have seized the headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)’s Sixth Infantry Division in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The development, if confirmed, marks a potentially decisive moment in the ongoing Sudanese civil war and represents the collapse of the army’s last major bastion in the Darfur region.
RSF’s Claimed Victory:
The RSF released multiple statements and video footage on social media appearing to show its fighters inside the captured 6th Infantry Division compound, celebrating what they described as a “historic liberation.” An RSF spokesperson said the operation inflicted heavy casualties and equipment losses on the Sudanese army and its allies, calling it “a turning point in the course of the war.”
This announcement follows months of intense fighting around El Fasher, which had been under partial siege by RSF forces since mid-2024.
Strategic and Political Significance:
If independently verified, the fall of the SAF headquarters in El Fasher would represent a major strategic setback for the Sudanese army. El Fasher was the only remaining state capital in Darfur that had not been fully captured by the RSF. Its takeover effectively gives the paramilitary control over all five Darfur states, consolidating their dominance across the vast western region of Sudan.
Analysts warn that the capture could accelerate the de facto partition of Sudan, with the RSF controlling much of western and southern Sudan, while the SAF maintains authority over parts of the east and north. Such an outcome would drastically reshape the country’s political and military landscape.
Army and Local Response:
The Sudanese Armed Forces have not yet issued an official statement regarding the RSF’s claim. However, local sources reported that SAF troops had withdrawn from parts of the city following sustained bombardments. Pro-army militias, known as the Popular Resistance, have denied that El Fasher has completely fallen, calling the RSF’s announcement “a propaganda campaign” aimed at demoralizing government supporters.
Fighting reportedly continues in some pockets of resistance within the city, though communication blackouts have made independent verification extremely difficult.
Humanitarian Situation in El Fasher:
The city of El Fasher, home to an estimated 250,000 civilians, has endured an 18-month siege that severely restricted access to food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. The United Nations and several international relief agencies have repeatedly warned of “catastrophic conditions”, citing mass starvation, civilian casualties, and collapsing healthcare systems.
With the fall of the army base, aid organizations fear further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis and the potential outbreak of ethnic-based violence across Darfur, a region already scarred by two decades of conflict.
Background of the Conflict:
The Sudanese civil war, which began in April 2023, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The struggle for control of the country has devastated Sudan, displacing over 11.7 million people and plunging millions more into acute hunger, according to UN estimates.
The reported fall of El Fasher underscores the continuing fragmentation of Sudan, raising grave concerns that the war may enter a new and even more destructive phase, with profound implications for regional stability and international humanitarian efforts.
