After more than 500 days of relentless siege, the Sudanese city of El-Fashir in North Darfur has fallen under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Resistance within the city has largely collapsed, with only isolated pockets of defenders remaining. According to UN representative Martha Pobee, the fall of El-Fashir marks a decisive turning point that has shifted the balance of power in the region, reports Baltimore Chronicle citing the United Nations.
Heavy fighting continues to devastate other parts of Sudan. In recent weeks, clashes have intensified across the Kordofan region, which, according to UN assessments, may soon become another epicenter of fierce conflict. Last week, the RSF seized the town of Bara in North Kordofan, located just 40 kilometers from the state capital, El-Obeid.
Both warring sides are actively deploying drones, expanding the geographical scope of the conflict. Airstrikes have been reported across the Blue Nile, Khartoum, Sennar, South, and West Kordofan regions. Following the reopening of Khartoum’s airport, it immediately became the target of massive drone attacks. Pobee emphasized that the consequences of these strikes are catastrophic — a rising civilian death toll, mounting humanitarian needs, and the continued destruction of critical infrastructure.
The United Nations has documented evidence of mass atrocities, ethnic violence, and grave violations of international humanitarian law, including sexual assaults. According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, El-Fashir witnessed large-scale executions, killings, and attacks on civilians attempting to flee the city last week. Communication with El-Fashir has been cut off, leaving the exact number of casualties unknown.
Despite public statements from both sides claiming to protect civilians, the people of El-Fashir remain in grave danger, with no safe evacuation routes available. Similar reports have emerged from the town of Bara, where at least 50 people, including five Red Crescent volunteers allegedly executed without trial, have been killed.
The UN continues to call for accountability for those responsible. Pobee reminded that the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan has been extended and referenced the recent International Criminal Court ruling against Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb.
The UN Secretary-General once again urged the warring parties to immediately cease hostilities and return to peace talks. Pobee stressed that foreign interference must end, as the flow of weapons and mercenaries only fuels further violence. According to her, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has invited both parties to hold separate UN-mediated talks focused on de-escalation and the protection of civilians. Both sides have expressed readiness to engage, and the UN hopes for support from nations with influence over the conflict.
As part of the “Quartet” mechanism — comprising the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Arab League, and the UN — preparations are underway for an intra-Sudanese dialogue under the auspices of the African Union. Consultations are ongoing with key Sudanese actors regarding the timeline and role of international partners.
Pobee highlighted the urgent need for coordinated international action. The UN and African Union are planning a ministerial-level meeting in Addis Ababa to align mediation efforts and establish shared priorities. Concluding her address, Pobee urged the UN Security Council to act decisively, declaring that the international community “must stand with the people of Sudan who have suffered for far too long.”
Members of the Security Council issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity while calling on all states to support peace efforts. The Council reiterated its rejection of any parallel governing structures established in territories controlled by the RSF.
UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher warned that Sudan’s humanitarian disaster is worsening. He described El-Fashir — already a symbol of immense suffering — as descending “into an even deeper hell” after the RSF entered the city and carried out mass executions.
Fletcher said the tragedy was not unexpected, noting that the international community had long been aware of the looming catastrophe. According to UN data, nearly 500 people — patients and their relatives — were killed inside the Saudi Maternity Hospital, one of many medical facilities targeted in recent weeks. Fletcher called the attacks “yet another brutal illustration of how this war is being fought.”
Tens of thousands of residents have fled their homes to escape the violence. Most refugees — women, children, and the elderly — are traveling on foot toward the overcrowded town of Tawila. Many face extortion, assault, and deadly risks along the way.
Despite enormous challenges, humanitarian organizations continue their work: from January to August, 13.5 million people received assistance. UN and NGO teams are providing emergency healthcare, treating malnourished children, distributing food, and combating cholera outbreaks.
The UN has allocated an additional $20 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to expand aid operations in Darfur and Kordofan, supplementing existing funds from the Sudan Humanitarian Fund that support local partners in the hardest-hit areas.
Concluding his remarks, Fletcher described the crisis in Sudan as “a failure of the global system to protect civilians,” warning that “while the world remains silent, the nightmare continues.”
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