Darfur governor accuses army of inaction as besieged El Fasher faces collapse

July 28, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The governor of Darfur region on Monday accused the Sudanese army of inaction over the besieged city of El Fasher, where he said the humanitarian situation has collapsed and residents have resorted to eating animal fodder to survive.

The stark warning from Governor Minni Minawi came a day after the governor of North Darfur, Al-Hafiz Bakhit, announced the “collapse of the living situation” in El Fasher. Bakhit said supplies of “ambaz,” a type of animal fodder, were nearly depleted after serving as a primary food source for months.

“There is an extreme coolness in dealing with El Fasher from many sides and systems, and even from the state itself,” Minawi, a former rebel leader now allied with the army, told reporters in the eastern city of Port Sudan.

El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been under a tight siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for more than a year. The RSF, which has been fighting the Sudanese army since April 2023, has blocked aid and essential goods from reaching the city, according to officials.

Minawi accused the RSF of committing genocide through the siege, destroying hospitals, and killing civilians who tried to flee on “racist and tribal” grounds.

The governor’s comments came as a political coalition led by the RSF announced the formation of a rival government, a move Minawi dismissed, saying the group “only desires to control resources.”

Despite his harsh criticism, Minawi, speaking after a meeting of the army-allied Democratic Bloc, said he would be willing to engage with his foes.

“We will communicate with everyone who has an opinion, even the RSF,” he said. “If we find they have a reasonable opinion, we will communicate with them.”