Sudan Mosque Strike by Paramilitary Kills 13 in El-Fasher

Sudan Mosque Strike by Paramilitary Kills 13 in El-Fasher

At least 13 people were killed when artillery shells fired by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck a mosque sheltering displaced families in the besieged city of El-Fasher, eyewitnesses said on Thursday.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, reportedly came from the north, where the RSF has seized the Abu Shouk displacement camp and established new positions in its bid to capture the city from the Sudanese army.

“After the shelling in the afternoon, we pulled 13 bodies from under the rubble and buried them,” said one local resident.

A survivor described the horror inside the mosque: “We were 70 families taking shelter after the RSF took over our homes. Then the shells fell, killing 13 of us, injuring 20, and destroying part of the mosque.”

El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been under RSF siege since May last year. It remains the army’s last major stronghold in the region, but its territory has steadily diminished amid relentless artillery and drone strikes.

The RSF has reportedly taken control of nearby displacement camps, killing hundreds and extorting survivors seeking safe passage.

Between Tuesday and Wednesday, at least 20 people were killed when RSF strikes hit El-Fasher Hospital, one of the last functioning medical facilities in the city. Last month, a drone strike on another mosque killed at least 75 people.

Across Sudan, the conflict — which erupted in April 2023 — has displaced millions and left nearly 25 million people facing acute hunger, creating what the United Nations calls the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis.

Tens of thousands have been killed, though no official toll exists as many victims cannot reach hospitals, and survivors are forced to bury their dead wherever possible.

The RSF’s siege has led to mass starvation in El-Fasher, where families have been surviving on animal feed — now scarce and sold for hundreds of dollars per sack.

If El-Fasher falls, the RSF would gain full control of the Darfur region, where it has been attempting to establish a rival administration. Meanwhile, the army continues to hold Sudan’s north, centre, and east.