Sudanese army leaves El Fasher amid RSF advancement, says al-Burhan
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Sudan’s army has withdrawn from El Fasher after what Abdel Fattah al-Burhan called systematic attacks on civilians by the Rapid Support Forces, raising concerns of Darfur falling under the full control of the RSF and a potential national partition.
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Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, on September 3, 2024. (Florence Lo/Pool Photo via AP)
The Chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced on Monday that the Sudanese army had decided to withdraw from El Fasher, citing the systematic destruction and killing of civilians carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who had earlier declared full control over the provincial capital of North Darfur.
In a televised address broadcast by the armed forces via X, al-Burhan stated that the military and local security leadership in El Fasher reached a consensus to leave the city to protect civilian lives.
⭕ كلمة السيد رئيس مجلس السيادة القائد العام للقوات المسلحة الفريق أول ركن #عبدالـفـتــاح_البرهـــان للشعب السوداني ..
— مجلس السيادة الإنتقالي - السودان (@TSC_SUDAN) October 27, 2025
٢٧ أكتوبر ٢٠٢٥م pic.twitter.com/mGMIAr6Blg
“The military leadership in El Fasher, including the security committee, determined that leaving the city was necessary after the systematic destruction and crimes against civilians,” al-Burhan said. “We are determined to cleanse the country of mercenaries and exact retribution for all our martyrs and the people of the city.”
Al-Burhan added that the army remains capable of “turning the tables and achieving victory after victory,” asserting the military's alignment with the will of the Sudanese people. He further condemned the international silence, stating, “The crimes committed in El Fasher are a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and international norms, and the entire world is watching without being held accountable.”
RSF claims full control over Darfur
On Sunday, the Rapid Support Forces announced that they had seized control of El Fasher, effectively eliminating the Sudanese army’s last major stronghold in Darfur. If verified, this would mean that RSF now controls all five states in the region.
The Rapid Support Forces Darfur campaign represents a significant shift in the balance of power, consolidating western Sudan under RSF control.
The development has heightened fears of the geographic and military partition of Sudan, with RSF dominance in the west and the army in the east.
Concerns are also mounting over the fate of nearly 250,000 civilians remaining in El Fasher, amid reports of possible reprisals and further escalation. Masad Boulos, US Presidential Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, warned that RSF’s full control over Darfur could have “serious and worrying consequences in the future regarding partition.”
Analysts have cautioned that the RSF may leverage its momentum in Darfur military control to push further into other regions of Sudan. Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group stated, “We haven't seen any indication that the Rapid Support Forces leadership is satisfied with Western Sudan alone. So, as long as they receive sufficient supplies to sustain the war effort, it appears they will continue to escalate this war.”
The ongoing conflict, now stretching over two and a half years, has resulted in severe humanitarian and political consequences for Sudan, with countries and global organizations warning of the human toll of the war in terms of displacement, famine, and war crimes committed against civilians.
