By Bayethe Msimang

A high-level operation carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State, has revealed the use of a former United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) compound as a secret detention facility operated by joint forces allied with the Sudanese army.

The operation resulted in the release of detainees held inside the compound, which, according to local sources, had been converted into an unofficial prison used to detain opponents and suspects. Leaked reports suggest that senior officers in the Sudanese army and members of allied armed movements are withholding information about the incident, reflecting mounting confusion within their ranks.

According to Darfur 24, sources familiar with the matter said the intelligence unit of the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Arko Minnawi faces allegations of facilitating the release, a sign of growing fractures among former partners in the pro-government alliance.

Army defences crumbling in Al-Fashir

On the ground, RSF units have made notable advances toward the perimeter of the army’s Sixth Infantry Division headquarters, a move widely seen as a prelude to ending the Sudanese military’s presence in Darfur, particularly after days of intense combat.

The Sudanese newspaper Idraak reported that government forces are suffering from disarray on the battlefield, retreating rapidly under sustained RSF firepower. The RSF has been launching heavy assaults on army and allied militia positions, with fighting escalating into fierce clashes involving both heavy and light weapons.

Al-Fashir represents the last major foothold for the Sudanese army in the Darfur region, making the battle for control of the city critical both militarily and politically. The city also serves as a central humanitarian hub for coordinating aid operations across the conflict-ridden region.

Severe Humanitarian Crisis and Limited Civilian Evacuations

Parallel to the military escalation, the humanitarian situation inside Al-Fashir is deteriorating rapidly. Thousands of besieged residents face near-total shortages of food and medicine. The “Founding Sudan Alliance – Ta’sis” initiative, along with several civilian protection organisations, has been working to evacuate civilians from conflict zones to safer areas in northern Darfur – efforts hampered by severe logistical and security challenges.

In early June, the city witnessed a tragic incident when Sudanese army aircraft bombed a World Food Programme convoy in the Al-Kuma area, killing several drivers and their assistants. The attack drew widespread regional and international condemnation.

According to a field assessment conducted by humanitarian organisations, approximately 38% of children in Al-Fashir’s displacement centres are suffering from acute malnutrition, including 11% in critical condition, while local markets are experiencing near-total depletion of essential goods.

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