In Sudan, clashes broke out on Thursday February 1 between the army and General Hemedti’s paramilitaries in the capital of North Darfur. The town of El Fasher was shelled, but remains under army control. These clashes raise fears of an escalation of the conflict.
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According to several sources, the town of El Fasher came under mortar fire, killing at least five people and injuring around twenty others. In a statement, the Rapid Support Forces claim to have repelled an attack by the Sudanese army. And add that they showed restraint so as not to endanger the lives of civilians.
Until now, the capital of North Darfur had been spared from the fighting. In recent months, the RSF have launched a dazzling offensive in the region, gradually taking control of four of the five Darfur provinces.
But El Fasher is a special case, underlines a researcher, because there are the main rebel groups of Darfur who last year had warned the paramilitaries: El Fasher is the red line not to be crossed.
Clashes in this city could tip several rebel movements into war, notably the most important, the Sudan Liberation Army of Minni Minawi. This would also cause the flight of more than 100,000 people, already displaced and settled in this province.