An extensive earthen wall is being built around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher, according to research from Yale University. Satellite images reveal that since May, more than 31km (19 miles) of berms have been constructed in territory outside the city occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
El-Fasher has been under siege for over a year, acting as the last major stronghold for Sudan's army, which continues to battle the RSF. Reports indicate that the RSF has increasingly targeted civilians, with devastating attacks leading to significant casualties.
Dr. Mohamed Faisal Hassan from the Sudan Doctors Network stated, Yesterday there was shelling in a civilian area that killed 24 civilians and injured 55 more, including five women. Such deliberate assaults on civilian locations are characterized as heinous acts by medical professionals.
Amid the siege, humanitarian organizations have been unable to access el-Fasher for months, exacerbating a dire situation marked by food scarcity, medical care shortages, and constant bombardment. Civilians attempting to flee are reportedly being targeted by RSF forces.
The construction of the physical wall deepens the siege's conditions, complicating essential access for both humanitarian aid and the residents themselves, forcing many to remain in increasingly dangerous situations.
Yale's report highlights the ongoing construction of the walls as a part of a broader strategy by the RSF to control the region and potentially solidify its dominance over western Darfur. Observers express concern that the fall of el-Fasher could lead to partitioning within Sudan, as conflicting sides appoint their own governments.
