El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, witnessed some of the fiercest fighting since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), amid warnings of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe in the city — the army’s last major stronghold in the region.
Field sources said the armed forces, backed by the Joint Force of signatory rebel movements, repelled a coordinated attack launched by the RSF from three fronts. The clashes resulted in the destruction of armored vehicles and the deaths of dozens of RSF fighters.
The city has been under a suffocating siege for more than a year, facing acute shortages of food and medicine. Local resistance committees have called on the international community to break its silence regarding the siege of civilian populations.
Regional Efforts to End the War
Regionally, diplomatic momentum is building through the Quartet mechanism — comprising the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates — which plans to hold a meeting in Washington on October 24 to secure a humanitarian ceasefire and end hostilities.
Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to the U.S. President for Arab and African Affairs, said Washington is working within the Quartet framework to coordinate efforts aimed at ending Sudanese civilians’ suffering.
“SOMMUD” Initiative and Civil Forces’ Response
Meanwhile, civilian political initiatives continue, led by the Democratic Civil Alliance (Sommud) under former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. The coalition held a consultative meeting with mediators from the African Union, IGAD, the United Nations, and the Arab League, presenting its vision for resolving the crisis through three integrated tracks: humanitarian relief, ceasefire, and inclusive political dialogue.
The alliance emphasized Sudanese ownership and leadership of the political process, describing the Quartet’s September roadmap as “a strong basis to build upon.” It also called for preliminary measures including a humanitarian truce, prisoner releases, the repeal of restrictive laws, and the formation of a preparatory committee representing all Sudanese stakeholders.
Diverging Views and Cautious Optimism
Bahsha Tabeq, adviser to the RSF commander, criticized the joint appeal by the AU, UN, Arab League, and IGAD for political dialogue before a ceasefire deal, calling it “a dangerous attempt to circumvent international efforts.” He warned that bypassing the prerequisites for ending the war would only “reproduce the crisis.”
In contrast, Mubarak al‑Fadil, leader of the Umma Party – Reform and Renewal faction, expressed optimism about recent diplomatic progress. He predicted a humanitarian truce could be reached by early November, with a full cessation of hostilities possible in January. He urged national reconciliation aimed at “preserving the homeland and rebuilding stronger ties with regional and international partners.”
