The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan have issued a 48-hour ultimatum for militants in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, to surrender and vacate the city, pledging humane treatment and immediate release for those who comply.
In a statement dated January 20, 2025, the RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, called on fighters to lay down their arms and abandon their positions. The group characterized many of the militants as individuals coerced into combat by forces loyal to General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Islamist factions.
“All fighters in El Fasher must surrender and leave the city within 48 hours,” the statement read. “Those who comply will be treated with dignity, without retaliation, and granted immediate freedom.” However, the RSF warned that failure to heed the deadline would prompt decisive action.
The ultimatum marks the latest escalation in Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by al-Burhan. The violence has particularly ravaged Darfur, with widespread displacement, ethnic violence, and allegations of atrocities against civilians.
El Fasher, a key city in North Darfur, has been a flashpoint throughout the conflict. Observers view the RSF’s move as part of a broader effort to consolidate control over critical urban centers in the region.
The humanitarian situation in El Fasher remains dire. Tens of thousands of residents have fled amid the violence, and aid operations are severely constrained. The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have expressed alarm over the worsening crisis, urging all parties to prioritize civilian safety and access to aid.
The RSF’s statement also extended condolences to its fallen members and reiterated its commitment to combating what it described as the “terrorist Islamic Movement.”
Neither the SAF nor the militant groups operating in the area have issued an immediate response to the RSF’s ultimatum. The situation in El Fasher remains volatile as the deadline approaches.