Sudanese army repels major RSF attack on El Fasher of North Darfur

August 10, 2024 (EL FASHER) – The Sudanese army said on Saturday it had repelled a major attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

The RSF had intensified its attacks on El Fasher in recent days, causing civilian casualties and prompting many residents to flee.

“Our forces crushed a major attack by the RSF militia on El Fasher today,” Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah, an army spokesperson, said in a statement.

The commander of the joint force’s operations, General Abboud Adam Khater, told Sudan Tribune that the attack was the most violent the city had seen since the conflict began. He said the RSF had mobilized all its forces in an attempt to take the city but were met with heavy resistance.

The army said it had destroyed more than 12 RSF vehicles and seized about 20 others. It also claimed that hundreds of RSF fighters were killed. Sudan Tribune could not independently verify these claims. The RSF could not be reached for comment.

Eyewitnesses reported that the clashes began when RSF fighters infiltrated several neighbourhoods in El Fasher, committing abuses against fleeing residents. The army said the RSF attacked the city from three directions, using thousands of mercenaries and modern weapons.

The fighting lasted for about six hours before the RSF were pushed back. In response to their defeat, the RSF resorted to shelling the city from outside, targeting camps for displaced people, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure.

Volunteers in El Fasher accused the RSF of killing civilians based on their ethnicity. Ahmed Mustafa, a volunteer, told Sudan Tribune that at least three civilians were summarily executed in two neighbourhoods.

The health sector in El Fasher is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of casualties and a severe shortage of medical supplies.