RSF makes advances over army in battle for el-Fasher

Ahmed Abdel Rahman can hear the sound of artillery in terms of a group of temporary tents in the Sudanese city of Al -Fashir.

The 13 -year -old boy was injured in the last bombing attack.

“I feel pain in my head and my legs,” he says.

For 17 months, the Rapid Semi -Military Support (RSF) besieged the clairis, which is located in its ethnic heart in Darfur, and now they are closed at the main military sites in the city.

The conflict in Sudan erupted in 2023 after the power struggle between the leading leaders in RSF and the Sudanese army.

After losing control of the capital, Khartoum, the paramilitary forces climbed efforts to seize Al -Fasher – the last stronghold of the army in the West Darfur region.

The army -controlled lands shrunk into a pocket around the airport. For tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside the city, every day is a nightmare.

The siege and fighting makes it very difficult to get reliable information, but the BBC has worked with independent journalists inside Al -Fasher to get an insight into life for those trapped there.

Warning: This story contains graphical details that some people may find sad

His mother, Islam, Abdullah, says: “Ahmed’s body is full of shrapnel.” “His condition is unstable.”

But as hospitals are exposed under fire and supplies are running out, medical care is rare.

It raises Ahmed’s shirt to detect his wounds, his bone reminds the hunger chasing the city.

In the vicinity, Hamida Adam cannot move, as her leg was severely injured. She lay on the road for five days after she was hit by shell fire, before being transferred to the camp to the people who were displaced due to the conflict.

“I don’t know if my husband has died or alive,” she says. “My children were crying for several days because there is no food. Sometimes they find something they eat and sometimes they go to bed without food. My legs rot – it’s smell now. I just lying down. I have nothing.”

RSF has made great progress in recent weeks. They have released footage showing their fighters at the BBC location as the Army Armored Legion’s headquarters.

There are other bases close to the Sudan Army, including the Sixth Infantry Division, is still defending it.

In the past few days, a video clip of the soldiers said to chant the arrival of the supplies that affect the need, which it stated was being delivered by AirDrops.

But in the media war that framing the battles, RSF fighters celebrate what they portray as an imminent victory in El -Fasher.

Full control over the city would give them a strategic advantage in the civil war after the setbacks earlier this year, which reduces their arrival in Libya and enhance their control over the western border in an arc that extends from South Sudan to parts of Egypt.

“RSF will be able to bring more fuel from southern Libya, more weapons, as well as from southern Libya, and you will be able to protect their crossing from the border area to Darfur,” she says.

“From the preaching, RSF will be able to launch attacks in both the Kordovan regions and to the capital [Khartoum] once again. Thus, it will really put RSF more militarily. “

Local armed groups known as the joint forces fighting along with the army also have a lot at stake.

“For the joint forces, this is a battle for their homelands,” says Ms. Khair. “This is a battle for its ability as armed groups to demand the electoral districts in Darfur. If they lose Darfur, they no longer have any part of Darfur … it is a battle for their political survival.”

RSF progress is operated by fatal and increasingly developed drones that are said to be provided by the United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirates), which is a matter of the wealthy Gulf state Despite the evidence of the investigations conducted by war observers, including United Nations experts.

The BBC’s check -up shots show that it seems to be a site near a military site, but also an informal market – the civilians spare no.

Last month more than 75 people were killed in a blow to a mosque during the morning prayerIn the blaming attack on RSF, although he did not publicize publicly. Rescuers were unable to find enough funeral shrouds for all bodies.

Samah Abdullah Hussein says that her young son, Samir, is buried in this collective grave. He was killed the day before, his brother was injured. The shells hit the school square where they resorted.

“He was injured in his head and the wound was deep, and his brain came out,” she says, wiping tears from her eyes. “My other son was injured in the head with shrapnel and his arm, and I was hit in the right leg.”

Hundreds of thousands fled the matter last year. Those who have come to safety say that people were attacked, stolen and killed while they were leaving.

The United Nations warns of more atrocities if the RSF fighters exceed the city.

Paliphydar forces deny targeting non -Arab ethnic groups, such as the local Zaghawa community, despite the evidence of the war crimes provided by the United Nations and human rights. They are trying to send a different message – with new videos displaying a greeting and helping those who flee.

The shots are a tremor of refugees watching from outside the country, despite its softer tone. He gets to know a lot of people have stopped by RSF fighters.

“This last man we used to play football with,” tell the BBC, “and the other in the middle is my music, and I know him from the Persians.”

The refugee also sees some of the group’s relatives – and he asked not to name them.

He says, “He really destroyed me and shocked me,” he says. “I will be worried until I hear from them, or send me a message that they are fine, and they are in a safe place.”

Later that day, he sent me a word that his family members were safe – tremendous, but temporary.

He says, “It is not only my relatives.” “It comes to all the people I know. It comes to my memories there. I see every day, the people I know die, places that I used to go to. My memories died, not only the people I know. It is like a nightmare.”

He fears a lot of what the coming weeks may bring. Those who are still trapped in the city can only wait – and try to survive.