Sudan’s RSF shells el-Fasher, kills 35 civilians in North Darfur

At least 35 civilians were killed and 40 others injured after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled residential areas in el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, the Sudanese army said on Friday.

In a statement, the army’s sixth Infantry Division, stationed in el-Fasher, reported that the RSF carried out “indiscriminate and scattered artillery shelling” on Thursday, targeting populated districts across the city.

According to the military, the shelling killed 35 people—including women, children, and the elderly—and left 40 others seriously wounded. The injured were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The army also claimed it repelled a “failed RSF ground assault” on the city’s northeastern outskirts. It said 80 RSF fighters were killed, 10 armed vehicles destroyed, and further heavy losses inflicted.

The RSF has not yet commented on the army’s claims.

Since May 2024, el-Fasher has been the site of ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, despite repeated international warnings about the risks of fighting in the city, which serves as a central hub for humanitarian operations across all five Darfur states.

Earlier this week, the RSF claimed it had taken control of the Zamzam refugee camp near el-Fasher following clashes with government forces. According to U.N. figures, at least 400 civilians have been killed and nearly 400,000 displaced due to the ongoing conflict in the area.

The broader war between the Sudanese army and the RSF began on April 15, 2023. It has led to thousands of deaths and created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to the U.N. and local authorities, more than 20,000 people have been killed and 15 million displaced. However, some U.S.-based researchers estimate the death toll to be around 130,000.

In recent weeks, the RSF has reportedly lost significant territory across Sudan to government forces.