OVERVIEW
On 21 September, a pro-Rapid Support Forces (RSF) account posted a video to X showing RSF presence in the besieged city of El Fasher, North Darfur. Sudan Witness geolocated the RSF soldiers to a house located west of the advanced eastern defensive positions of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) 6th Infantry Division Headquarter in El Fasher. This is the first time that Sudan Witness has observed significant changes in the defensive positions since June 2024, as mapped by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (figure 1).
Other footage shows RSF fighters in what appear to be a religious facility and in civilians homes, which they claimed were used by SAF and its affiliates for military purposes. The soldiers also said that they found weapons, ammunition boxes, and camping setup inside the multi-store buildings. Sudan Witness could not confirm the validity of the RSF’s claims.
On 23 September, a pro-RSF Telegram channel posted a video showing the RSF clearing the defensive position north of the Timanat Cemetery, approximately 800 metres northeast from the Southern Hospital, using a heavy loader. The video was verified by CIR. Analysis of satellite imagery indicates that the defensive position was likely cleared between 19 and 23 September.
Figure 1: Map shows the verified RSF presences in El Fasher, from 19 to 23 September 2024, Sources: Google Earth, Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, Telegram and X.
IMPACT
On 23 September, Darfur24 reported that 27 died following three executive days of RSF shelling starting Thursday evening. The media outlet also reported that the shelling hit Hajar Gaddo market (قدو حجر سوق (located 500 meters east the SAF base, and Birinjiya neighbourhood (برنجية حي (on 21 September, north to the El Fasher Southern Hospital. At the time of writing Sudan Witness could not identify any damage to infrastructure in these areas. Darfur24 reported that more than 150 families have arrived at Zamzam camp for Internally Displaced Persons since the RSF took over the Southern Hospital.
CONTEXT
The 6th Infantry Division Headquarter in El Fasher is the last stronghold of SAF in Darfur. The RSF besieged the city since April 2024, after they took control of Melit to the north.
If RSF-affiliated Arab militia take control over the city, which is home to the Darfur Region Government HQ, there will be a heightened risk of atrocities against the Zaghawa tribe, similar to those reported by Human Rights Watch against Masalit before and during RSF’s attack on El Geneina, West Darfur, in June 2023.
Sudan Witness continues to monitor the situation.