Sudan gov’t accuses states of arming RSF for El Fasher ‘air siege’
April 6, 2025 (EL FASHER) – A Sudanese government spokesperson on Saturday accused unnamed countries of supplying anti-aircraft missiles to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to enforce an “air siege” on the North Darfur capital, El Fasher.
The accusation came as several armed groups announced plans to help evacuate civilians from the besieged city and nearby camps amid ongoing fighting.
The RSF also shelled the Zamzam displaced persons camp, situated 12 km southwest of El Fasher, on Saturday morning.
Government spokesperson Khalid Al-Oieser stated, “Some countries have recently been involved in supplying the militia with weapons and anti-aircraft missiles, attempting to tighten the ground siege on El Fasher into both a ground and air blockade.”
Al-Oieser highlighted government airdrops of aid into El Fasher and criticised the UN’s “silence and inaction” regarding alleged crimes and blocked aid access.
Last June 13th, the UN Security Council demanded the RSF lift its nearly year-long siege on El Fasher.
The RSF has tightened the siege over the past year, displacing residents from surrounding villages and reportedly destroying water sources, leading to shortages of goods.
Contradictory reports emerged Thursday regarding a downed aircraft near El Fasher. The RSF claimed to have shot down a government warplane dropping barrel bombs, while activists asserted the plane was delivering food aid. The army has not commented.
Evacuation offers
Amid the escalating crisis, several armed groups offered assistance to civilians. The Neutral Force for Civilian Protection in Darfur announced it was opening safe corridors, in coordination with the RSF, to move civilians from El Fasher and Zamzam camp “from the hell of conflict to safe villages.”
Formed on January 12, the Neutral Force comprises the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nur (SLM-AW) and the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces led by Tahir Hajer (GSLF). Its stated aim is to secure civilians, aid routes, and trade convoys.
Separately, the GSLF announced its readiness, coordinating with forces under the “Tasis” (Founding Sudan Alliance), to secure and protect civilians wanting to leave conflict areas.
The GSLF said it has contacted regional and international aid organizations and received commitments for urgent humanitarian assistance for displaced people reaching safe zones.
The alliance described the situation in and around El Fasher as dire, citing the collapse of basic services, severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, rising numbers of displaced people, and overwhelmed health facilities.
It urged civilians in El Fasher and the surrounding Abu Shouk, Zamzam, and Abuja camps to temporarily evacuate areas near military frontlines and move towards safer localities within or outside North Darfur.
Previous reports estimate some 605,000 people were displaced within North Darfur between April 2024 and January 2025 due to conflict, including RSF advances near Kutum and El Fasher.
Similarly, the Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council (SLM-TC), led by El Hadi Idris, urged residents of El Fasher, Zamzam, and Abu Shouk camps to move to areas under its control in Korma and other North Darfur localities.
It stated its forces, coordinating with other Tasis alliance members, were ready to provide protection and open safe corridors from El Fasher towards Korma.
The alliance includes several armed movements involved in the evacuation offers, the RSF itself, the SPLM-N, the National Umma Party (NUP), and other political and civil groups. Its members recently signed a transitional charter, seen as a step towards forming a parallel administration.