By HAN News Desk
AL FASHIR – The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have claimed full control over Sudan’s restive Darfur region, declaring it “completely liberated” from elements loyal to the country’s former Islamic Movement.
In a statement on Monday, RSF commanders said their forces now control “all of Darfur,” marking what they described as a decisive victory in Sudan’s protracted civil conflict. The announcement follows months of intense fighting with Sudan’s regular army and allied militias, which erupted in April 2023 after a power struggle between RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Darfur, already scarred by decades of violence, has borne the brunt of the latest conflict. The RSF’s claim of total control signals a major shift in the balance of power, potentially consolidating the group’s influence across western Sudan.
RSF officials said their operations had “eradicated remnants of the Islamic Movement,” the network associated with former president Omar al-Bashir’s regime. The group accused those forces of fueling extremism and undermining peace efforts.
However, international observers and rights groups have expressed skepticism. The RSF, itself long accused of atrocities in Darfur and elsewhere, faces allegations of ethnic violence, looting, and the targeting of civilians.
The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have warned of a worsening crisis, with millions displaced and basic services collapsing. Entire communities in Darfur remain cut off from aid due to continued fighting and insecurity.
“Darfur’s population is trapped in a spiral of violence, hunger, and displacement,” said a UN humanitarian coordinator this week. “Without an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access, the situation could become catastrophic.”
The RSF’s declaration raises pressing questions about Sudan’s future. While the group presents its control of Darfur as a victory against the old regime, analysts warn it may further entrench RSF dominance and deepen divisions within the country.
The conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s armed forces has devastated the nation, with the economy in collapse and millions fleeing across borders into Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. Diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire have so far failed to yield results.
As the RSF consolidates its grip on Darfur, the fate of Sudan remains uncertain. For now, what the paramilitary calls “liberation” could mark the beginning of a new—and potentially darker—phase in the country’s long-running struggle for power.
