PORT SUDAN: Shelling by Sudanese paramilitary forces on Saturday killed at least 22 people and injured 17 in El-Fasher, the last city in Darfur not under their control, according to a hospital source. The city, crucial for humanitarian aid in a region facing severe famine, has been a focal point in the ongoing 15-month war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army.
El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has seen intensified fighting and shelling over the past two months. Witnesses reported heavy artillery bombardment by the RSF on Saturday, with significant damage to residential areas. “Some houses were destroyed by the shelling,” a witness told AFP.
Dr. Ahmed Ali, speaking anonymously from a hospital in El-Fasher, confirmed the casualties. “The bombardment targeted the livestock market and the Redayef neighborhood, resulting in 22 deaths and 17 injuries,” he said. This attack marks the deadliest shelling reported in El-Fasher since the beginning of July, when another city market was hit, killing 15 civilians.
The conflict in Sudan has seen fierce fighting since May 10, when intense clashes erupted over control of El-Fasher. The RSF’s siege has left hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the city, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in a region already on the brink of famine.
In response to the escalating violence, the UN Security Council passed a resolution last month calling for an end to the siege and the cessation of hostilities. Efforts to resolve the conflict through negotiations have so far failed. Previous talks did not yield a breakthrough, and new negotiations are scheduled to begin in Switzerland on August 14.
The ongoing conflict has displaced millions, led to dire warnings of famine, and caused widespread destruction in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.
