Sudan’s military fends off attack by paramilitary forces on major city in Darfur

Sudan’s conflict began in April last year when soaring tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country. Picture: AP Photo/Karel Prinsloo, File

Sudan’s military and allied armed groups have staved off an attack by a paramilitary group and Arab militias on a major city in the western region of Darfur, officials and residents said on Saturday.

The attack on Friday was the latest by the Arab-dominated Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against el-Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province, where hundreds of thousands of people are sheltering, many of whom have fled fighting elsewhere in Darfur.