article: https://allafrica.com/stories/202510300674.html
The article by Amal Yahya describes the worsening crisis in El Fasher, a city in North Darfur, Sudan. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful militia, recently took control of the city from the Sudanese army. Since then, civilians have faced violence, fear, and complete isolation. Thousands of people have fled to the nearby town of Tawila, where families live in tents, waiting for news about relatives who may have been killed. Communication systems like Starlink were shut down, cutting the city off from the outside world. The United Nations reports that at least 1,350 civilians have been killed, while local officials believe the number is closer to 2,000. Videos on social media show looting, shootings, and attacks on civilians trying to escape. Journalists have been arrested, and aid organizations are unable to reach those in need. The UN and human rights groups have called for urgent action, but little has changed. The people of El Fasher remain trapped and terrified.
The situation in El Fasher is important because it shows how weak governments and military rivalries can destroy the safety of ordinary people. The RSF’s control demonstrates the collapse of Sudan’s state authority and how violence becomes the main tool of power when law and governance fail. This mirrors the earlier Darfur genocide, showing that unresolved ethnic divisions and power struggles still shape Sudan’s politics. I believe this tragedy also shows how the international community reacts more strongly to crises that affect global interests, leaving others, like Sudan, largely forgotten. For the wider region, the continued fighting risks creating more refugees and instability across East Africa.
The United Nations and African Union should work together to create safe routes for civilians and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the city. Neighboring countries can offer shelter and support to displaced families. International organizations must document war crimes and demand justice for victims. Within Sudan, local leaders and journalists continue to share the truth despite fear and repression, showing courage and resilience.
This crisis connects to IB Global Politics themes of power, hard power, sovereignty, and human rights. The RSF’s use of military strength to seize control of El Fasher is a clear example of hard power, power through force, coercion, and violence. The Sudanese government’s failure to resist or protect its people shows the loss of sovereign and legitimate power. The situation also highlights the limits of international organizations, whose influence depends more on soft power (diplomacy and persuasion) than on enforcement. The tragedy in El Fasher shows how hard power can dominate when legitimate authority collapses and the world fails to act.