Sudanese army’s last Darfur holdout breaks truce

The city of al-Fashir in Sudan is facing a new wave of violence and humanitarian risks as attacks have shattered a year-old truce that protected it from the ongoing war. With a population of 1.6 million residents, the city is at risk of inter-communal violence and displacement.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of four other state capitals in Darfur and are now targeting al-Fashir, the last major city not under their control. The fight for al-Fashir could inflame ethnic tensions and spread across Sudan’s border with Chad, according to residents, aid agencies, and analysts.

The city’s population includes half a million people displaced during the earlier conflict in the region, with many more moving in during the current war that broke out in Khartoum in April 2023. The truce in al-Fashir fell apart after the RSF blockaded the city, leading to clashes and displacement of thousands of people.

Witnesses report that the army has reinforced supplies and troops in al-Fashir, unlike in other state capitals where soldiers quickly fled. Former rebel groups have vowed to defend against the RSF, but many non-Arab residents in al-Fashir are gripped with fear.

The recent violence has left at least 18 people dead in clashes, with villages being razed and thousands displaced. The RSF denies attacking al-Fashir and blames the army and allied groups for the violence. The city has been without running water or power for a year, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The situation in al-Fashir has raised concerns about wider spillover and renewed tensions between Arab and non-Arab tribes in Darfur. With forces from different factions entering the fray, the conflict in al-Fashir is escalating, posing a significant threat to the region’s stability.