Saturday 20th September 2025.
by inAfrika Newsroom
Sudan al-Fashir attack during Friday prayers left more than 70 people dead, Sudan’s Sovereignty Council said. Officials blamed the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for a drone strike that hit a packed mosque in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The attack came as fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF nears the end of its second year.
The strike hit during prayers. Local authorities moved survivors to clinics and asked residents to donate blood. The army said RSF units launched the drone. The council flagged a rising toll as crews cleared rubble around the mosque site. Communications stayed weak across parts of Darfur, slowing the flow of casualty data and names.
Witness access remained limited on Saturday. Community groups reported blocked streets near the impact zone. Aid workers said fuel and supplies were tight after weeks of clashes on El Fasher’s outskirts. The army and RSF traded blame for the attack and for recent shelling near displacement sites.
The U.N. Human Rights Office reported a sharp rise in civilian killings in the first half of 2025. Most deaths occurred in Darfur, including El Fasher and nearby camps. The report cited artillery, air and drone strikes in crowded areas and documented summary executions during urban battles. The conflict began in April 2023 and has created what the U.N. calls one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
UN investigators warned that ethnic targeting has deepened the violence. Humanitarians flagged a worsening health outlook as clinics shut down or ran out of staff and fuel. Fact-finding statements this month said both sides have targeted civilians and vital services, breaching international law.
Medical teams in North Darfur treated the wounded and transferred severe cases to functioning facilities. Relief agencies asked for secure corridors so ambulances can pass checkpoints. Stocks of IV fluids, antibiotics and trauma kits remained low. Aid groups said they need fuel and clearances to reopen routes into the city.
El Fasher sits at a strategic junction. New sweeps by security forces could push more families to flee neighborhoods near the front lines. Diplomats urged both sides to avoid civilian sites and to allow unhindered access for aid convoys. Officials said they will brief partners on verified casualty numbers once ground checks finish and communications improve
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