US Warns of Rebel Offensive in El-Fasher, Sudan

The United States has issued a warning about a potential rebel military offensive targeting the city of El-Fasher in Sudan. This city, which serves as a crucial humanitarian hub, is now facing the threat of escalating violence as a new front opens up in the country's ongoing civil war.

For the past year, clashes have been ongoing between the armed forces led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the paramilitary groups associated with Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. This conflict has resulted in the displacement of millions of people across Sudan.

Until recently, El-Fasher had managed to remain relatively untouched by the fighting, providing refuge to a significant number of displaced individuals. However, reports of bombardments and clashes in the city and its surrounding areas have emerged since mid-April.

The US State Department has called for an immediate cessation of attacks in El-Fasher, expressing deep concern over the possibility of an imminent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias. Such an offensive could place civilians in grave danger.

Recent incidents of arbitrary shelling and airstrikes in El-Fasher have resulted in the loss of civilian lives, with a pro-democracy lawyers' committee confirming the deaths of at least 25 individuals. Additionally, clashes in various parts of the city have led to the displacement of 36,000 people, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

El-Fasher plays a critical role as the primary humanitarian center in Darfur, a region that has witnessed significant violence during past conflicts. With a quarter of Sudan's population residing in Darfur, any further deterioration of the situation in El-Fasher could have catastrophic consequences.

The State Department has received credible reports of villages being destroyed by the Rapid Support Forces and their affiliates to the west of El-Fasher. Furthermore, it has condemned the indiscriminate aerial bombardments carried out by Sudan's armed forces in the region.

The escalating tensions and violence in El-Fasher are deeply concerning, with the potential to exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Sudan. Immediate action is needed to prevent further loss of life and displacement of civilians in the region.