After 133 repeated attacks, Al-Fashir becomes a graveyard for field commanders of the RSF

Sudanhorizon – Talal Ismail

Since May of this year, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia has failed to seize control of Al-Fashir, the capital of Darfur in western Sudan. Over the past four months of military confrontations, they have lost dozens of their field commanders, as well as numerous combat vehicles, equipment, and drones.
Last Thursday evening, Brigadier General Nabil Abdullah, the Sudanese army’s spokesperson, stated: “The Armed Forces, joint forces, and heroes of the popular resistance in Al-Fashir have once again demonstrated their strength by repelling a large-scale attack by the Dagalo militia on the city, inflicting heavy losses on the militia in both personnel and equipment, with the final count still ongoing.”
The joint armed forces also issued a statement received by Sudanhorizon: “Our forces eliminated over 80 mercenaries from the Janjaweed militia across all fronts, wounding many others, and destroyed over 20 of the enemy’s military vehicles. We also captured 10 intact military vehicles.”
Details of the Attack:
Major Ahmed Hussein Mustafa, spokesperson for the Joint Forces of the Armed Struggle, reported: “The RSF terrorist militia launched a wide-scale attack on Al-Fashir from the southern and eastern axes at 11:00 AM on Thursday. The joint forces of the armed struggle, popular resistance defence forces, and ‘Irt Irt’ fighters on the frontlines heroically defended the city, engaging in combat until 4:00 PM. Our forces inflicted heavy casualties on the Janjaweed and mercenaries, teaching them a harsh lesson in warfare and expelling them from the city.”
He continued: “This failed attack marks the 133rd attempt to seize the city, which our forces successfully suppressed. We eliminated over 80 mercenaries from the Janjaweed militia and inflicted numerous injuries while destroying more than 20 enemy vehicles. We also captured 10 intact military vehicles.”
The statement reassured the public: “The situation in Al-Fashir is entirely under the control of our brave forces, both on the ground and in the skies, where the Sudanese Air Force continues to pursue the remaining RSF elements outside the city.”
The statement also highlighted that “this cowardly attack occurred despite international calls and repeated UN Security Council resolutions to open humanitarian corridors to relieve the siege on Sudanese cities, allowing the delivery of food and medicine. However, the RSF and its regional backers have ignored these international decisions, continuing to block roads and prevent humanitarian aid from reaching cities like Al-Fashir. According to international organisations operating in Darfur, they are looting aid convoys and selling the supplies in markets, smuggling them into neighbouring countries. These actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the Security Council, mediators, and the international community have turned a blind eye to the RSF’s activities, continuing to issue empty international calls to both parties even though only the RSF has blocked roads and passages across Darfur and Sudan, using starvation as a weapon against civilians they could not defeat in direct combat.”
The statement praised the efforts of Sudanese citizens, both at home and abroad, particularly those fighting on the frontlines and those protesting in peaceful demonstrations outside international and regional institutions: “All of these efforts are working together toward the goal of freeing Sudan from the Janjaweed and fully cleansing our land. Soon, our country will be free and proud once more.”
A Graveyard for Commanders:
The RSF has lost several commanders in the recent battles in Al-Fashir, including one of their key field leaders, Abdul Rahman “Gorn Shata,” along with other commanders.
Gorn Shata was a prominent media figure for the RSF since the start of the war on April 15, 2023. He participated in several battles in Khartoum and Al-Jazira before moving to Al-Fashir.
In June, the governor of Darfur, Minni Arko Minawi, informed the U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Tom Perillo, about the RSF’s violations during a phone call.
In a statement, Minawi said he discussed with Perillo “the extent of the violations and crimes committed by the RSF against citizens in Al-Fashir, including targeting residential areas, camps for displaced persons, and the destruction of property, health facilities, hospitals, and other infrastructure.”
Earlier this week, Sudanese activists and media reports revealed that 20 civilians were killed and 32 others injured in an RSF shelling of the Abu Shouk displacement camp in Al-Fashir, North Darfur.