The RSF announced control of El Fasher on Sunday after intense battles with the Sudanese army. RSF leader and Sudan’s Founding Council Chair Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo described the capture as a “strategic shift in the war ” and “a change in favour of Sudan’s unity.”

Dagalo also said a committee would be formed to investigate reported violations during the fighting, following media reports of mass killings. The UN has said more than 1,350 civilians were killed in El Fasher.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s army chief and de facto ruler, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, insisted his forces remained capable of reversing the situation, vowing to “protect Sudan, its sovereignty, and the stability of its people regardless of the challenges.”

Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since fighting erupted between the army and the RSF in April 2023. More than 20,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured, while around 12 million have been displaced. Over 25.6 million Sudanese are now facing severe food insecurity, according to UN figures.