Darfur Falls: Sudan’s War Enters a Darker Phase
On October 26, 2025, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group rooted in the Janjaweed militias, seized control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This marked the complete loss of authority by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over Darfur and finalized the RSF’s control of all five Darfur state capitals.
The capture of El Fasher, a key city in a mineral-rich region including oil and gold, strengthens the RSF’s hold over an area the size of Spain, which also functions as a vital transport link to Sudan’s western neighbors.
Sudanese officials report that the takeover caused at least 2,000 deaths, worsening an already devastating humanitarian crisis. The United Nations estimates over 30 million people urgently need aid, with 9.6 million displaced and nearly 15 million children struggling to survive.
Heavy shelling between October 22 and 26 led to many civilian casualties, including humanitarian workers. After the city fell, hundreds of detainees were captured while fleeing. With communications cut and large-scale displacement ongoing, the full number of casualties is still unknown.
According to Sudanese authorities, the takeover resulted in the deaths of at least 2,000 people, adding to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in which the United Nations estimates over 30 million people require urgent assistance.
Author's summary: The RSF's seizure of El Fasher marks a critical turning point in Darfur's conflict, intensifying the region’s humanitarian crisis and solidifying RSF control over strategic territories.