The Sudanese Army has announced the recapture of several key defensive positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.
In a statement on Tuesday, 07 October 2025, the military said its forces carried out “special operations” to clear RSF strongholds, inflicting significant personnel and equipment losses.
Troops reportedly seized several combat vehicles and destroyed six others, including armoured vehicles. The Army added that it successfully repelled an RSF assault on the city’s southern axis, inflicting heavy casualties. The RSF has not issued an immediate response to the army’s claims.
El-Fasher, a vital humanitarian hub for the five Darfur states, has been under RSF blockade since 10 May 2024, despite international warnings of a looming catastrophe. The city’s strategic importance makes its recapture a potentially pivotal moment in the conflict, following RSF losses in Khartoum and other regions.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, fighting between the army and RSF has claimed more than 20,000 lives and displaced an estimated 15 million people, according to UN and local authorities. A separate study by American universities suggests the death toll could be as high as 130,000. Observers say the army’s latest advance signals a shift in momentum, as RSF-held territory continues to shrink across Sudan.