ADDIS ABABA: The African Union (AU) on Tuesday called for an immediate end to the ongoing fighting in El-Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur state, following an all-out attack by paramilitary forces over the weekend.
The African Union’s plea comes as clashes between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudan’s regular army continue to devastate the region, which has already endured years of ethnic violence.
El-Fasher is currently the only state capital in Darfur not under the control of the RSF, which has been engaged in a fierce battle with the Sudanese armed forces since April 2023. The city, home to approximately two million residents, has recently experienced an all-out assault by the RSF.
African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned the surge in violence, stating that it poses a grave threat to the region’s stability. “We strongly condemn the current escalation of the crisis and spread of violence,” Mahamat said
The AU Commission Chairman called for an immediate end to hostilities both within and outside of El-Fasher. He also urged the AU’s Peace and Security Council to urgently assess the situation and take necessary action.
The conflict in Sudan has resulted in severe humanitarian crises, with both the RSF and the regular army accused of committing war crimes, including the targeting of civilians, indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, and blocking vital humanitarian assistance.
The World Health Organization reported earlier this month that at least 20,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the war, while US envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello said that some estimates suggest the death toll could be as high as 150,000. The ongoing fighting has also displaced more than 10 million people, or roughly one-fifth of Sudan’s total population.
