Siege of Sudan’s El-Fasher escalates with near-total encirclement, Yale report finds
September 27, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – The siege of El-Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region has severely escalated, with paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) nearly completing a total encirclement of the city with defensive walls, according to a new report from Yale University researchers.
A network of earthen walls, or berms, built by the RSF now stretches for over 68 kilometres around El-Fasher, leaving only a 3-4 kilometre gap before the city is fully enclosed, the report published on Friday said. Construction appeared to be ongoing, as evidenced by satellite imagery from September 26, which showed excavators present near the city’s airfield.
The RSF is also hardening its control over routes out of the city, the report found. A new pile of raised earth, likely a checkpoint, was identified at an exit point on the road to Kutum. At another exit, Mellit Gate, two light technical vehicles were visible in satellite imagery. The report noted that the RSF has previously been accused of committing “gross human rights abuses” against civilians attempting to flee through such exit points.
The tightening siege coincides with the first visual confirmation from satellite imagery of “significant numbers” of people trying to flee the city on foot. The RSF appears to be reinforcing its assault, with imagery from September. 15 showing a convoy of at least 18 light technical vehicles on a road heading towards El-Fasher.
The report documented extensive damage inside the city from what it described as a multidirectional RSF attack supported by heavy weapons. Analysts found damage consistent with arson in the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people and evidence of bombardment in the Daraja Oula neighbourhood. Over 50 munition impacts were recorded near the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) headquarters and a school.
The human cost was evident in the appearance of over 70 new burial mounds within about one week.
The Yale researchers wrote that the ongoing offensive shows the RSF has “no desire for a ceasefire or humanitarian pause” and that the window for any potential intervention to protect civilians is narrowing rapidly.