Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized control of el-Fula, the capital of West Kordofan state, according to Al Jazeera. This development exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, with the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) criticizing the international response as “deeply inadequate.”
The RSF captured el-Fula after intense combat with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which ultimately withdrew from the city. The paramilitary group now controls key government and military installations, marking a significant strategic victory. Reporting from Khartoum, Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan emphasized the importance of el-Fula, one of only two army bases in West Kordofan, which also houses a crucial power station.
Positioned centrally, el-Fula offers access to both regional and national borders, raising concerns that the RSF could expand its territorial control and strategic influence. “If the RSF gains control of Babanusa as well, it could dominate territory across the entire country, which aligns with their stated goals,” Morgan explained.
The capture of el-Fula is part of the RSF’s broader strategy to target Sudanese army positions not only in Darfur but across the nation. This offensive has prompted more civilians to flee their homes, worsening the humanitarian situation.
The takeover has drawn sharp criticism from MSF, which labeled the global response to the conflict as severely lacking. “Extreme levels of suffering are evident across the country, and the needs are escalating daily,” MSF International President Christos Christou stated on Thursday via the social media platform X.
Recent fighting around Babanusa complicates the delivery of aid to displaced populations, with ongoing battles hampering humanitarian efforts. “Aid agencies are struggling to reach West Kordofan and other regions,” noted Morgan, highlighting the growing needs of displaced civilians in el-Fula and surrounding areas.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, pits the regular military under army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. Over a year of fighting has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 10 million people, leading the United Nations to describe it as the world’s worst internal displacement crisis.
Both the SAF and RSF have faced accusations of war crimes, including the deliberate targeting of civilians, indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. Rights organizations and the United States have also accused the RSF of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, further complicating the dire situation.
