Why are “Darfur” and the city of “Fasher” in western Sudan of strategic importance? – Mehr news agency RCO News Agency

Mehr News Agency, International Group: Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa; A country with an area of ​​more than 1.86 million square kilometers, which acts as a bridge between the north and south of the continent. This country is located in East Africa and borders Egypt and Libya to the north, Chad and the Central African Republic to the west, Ethiopia and Uganda to the south, and the Red Sea to the east.

The diverse geography of Sudan, from the dry deserts of the north to the fertile central plains and the western mountains, has made it a complex and multifaceted land. The Nile River, with two blue and white branches, is the backbone of life in this country; where a large part of Sudan’s 48 million population lives along it. Despite this important geographical location, Sudan has been struggling with ethnic crises, civil war and structural poverty for decades. One of the centers of this crisis is the Darfur region in the west of the country; A land rich in resources but plagued by conflict and instability.

The city of Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has become a symbol of these conflicts in recent years. The fall of Fasher in October 2025 at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) turned the tide of war in western Sudan and deepened concerns about the country’s disintegration. This fall was accompanied by a war crime and one of the most bitter pages in the history of Sudan was turned. In this report, the geographical situation of Sudan, Darfur and Fasher will be examined and their role will be analyzed in economic, military, political and humanitarian dimensions.

Geography of Sudan: An unstable bridge between Africa and the Arab world

Geographically, Sudan is divided into three main parts:

– The north of the Sahara with the Nubian desert and the dry areas of Biar

– Fertile center around the Nile River and Gezira plains

– South and Southwest, which has a warmer climate and denser vegetation.

The area of ​​the country is more than 1.86 million square kilometers and its population is estimated at 48 million people. The population density is low (25 people per square kilometer) and the annual population growth is reported to be around 2.5%. About two-thirds of the people live in villages and their lives are based on agriculture and animal husbandry.

Before the secession of the South, Sudan’s economy was based on oil exports, but after that, gold, cotton, livestock and agricultural products replaced the main sources of income. However, the civil war and international sanctions have reduced the country’s GDP to about 30 billion dollars.

Geopolitically, Sudan’s location is strategic: long borders with seven countries, direct access to the Red Sea, and its role as a gateway between North Africa and the east of the continent. This situation has made the country always exposed to the influence of foreign actors. From the east, the Red Sea is a communication route with the Middle East, and from the west, the border with Chad and Libya is considered a route for smuggling and moving forces.

The conflict between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has split the political and geographical structure of the country. Now the east of the country and the port of Port Sudan are under the control of the army, and the west, especially Darfur, is under the influence of the RSF. This war has created more than 10 million internally displaced people and 2.3 million refugees to neighboring countries and has brought famine to crisis in several states.

Darfur: the western heart of Sudan, a land of resources and conflict

Darfur is one of the largest states in Sudan and has an area of ​​about 510,000 square kilometers; It means nearly one-fifth of the country’s land. This region borders Chad to the west, Libya to the north, Kordofan to the east, and the Central African Republic to the south. Darfur is a combination of desert and highlands, and its average height is about 700 meters above sea level. Annual rainfall varies between 200 and 600 mm, but frequent droughts and desertification limit natural resources.

According to recent estimates, the population of Darfur is between 8 and 10 million people; That is, about one-fifth of the population of Sudan. This diverse population consists of more than 80 ethnic groups. More than 70% of the people are active in agriculture and animal husbandry and about 20% of the country’s livestock are kept in this area.

Darfur is rich in natural resources. Gold mines in this area supply about 30% of Sudan’s mined gold. In addition to gold, deposits of chromium, copper and even traces of uranium have been identified in Darfur. Despite these capacities, war and insecurity have hindered economic development and turned Darfur into one of the poorest regions of the country.

Darfur’s long borders with Chad and Libya make it a vital route for formal and informal trade. At the same time, these routes are the way for arms smuggling and the passage of immigrants. Since 2003, Darfur has been the scene of bloody ethnic wars that, according to the United Nations, have left more than 300,000 dead and millions displaced. In the current war, the RSF, made up of former Janjaweed militias, is in control of most of the Darfur states. Only the town of Fasher, in North Darfur, remained in the hands of the army for a long time, and that too recently fell with unprecedented carnage.

Fasher: the capital of North Darfur, the meeting point of the crisis

Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, is located 800 km west of Khartoum. This city, with a height of about 700 meters above sea level, is located on the main roads between Darfur, Chad and Libya, and it is considered a key point geographically. Fasher has a long history. In the 17th to 19th centuries, it was the capital of the Darfur Kingdom, and Sultan Ali Dinar ruled the region from there. Sultan Ali Dinar Palace and Museum, which was registered in the UNESCO list in 2023, is the cultural symbol of this city; Although it has been seriously damaged in recent wars.

Before the recent civil war, the population of Fasher was about 500,000 people, but the wave of refugees from other regions of Darfur made its population reach more than one million people. A large part of these people live in Zamzam and Nifasha camps. The residents of Fasher are a mix of different ethnicities. The local economy is based on animal husbandry and the gold trade, and Fasher Camel Market is one of the largest animal markets in western Sudan.

From a military point of view, before the fall, Fasher was the last important base of the Sudanese army (6th Infantry Division) in the west of the country. The long siege of this city from 2024 to October 2025 led to severe famine and humanitarian crisis. Fasher’s fall ultimately left the RSF in full control of Darfur and opened the way for these forces to expand their influence into Kordofan.

Dimensions of the importance of Fasher and Darfur

– Economic importance: Darfur and Fasher play a key role in Sudan’s economy in terms of natural resources, agriculture and livestock. Darfur’s gold mines provide a major share of the country’s exports, and livestock markets in this region are vital for trade with Egypt and Libya. However, the civil war caused the collapse of production and trade networks. Estimates show that about 20% of Sudan’s livestock was lost during the war.

Military and strategic importance: Fasher is in a position that gives it a logistical advantage. This city is the intersection of roads leading to Chad, Libya, Kordofan and East Sudan. Fasher’s control means mastering the supply routes and transportation lines in the west of the country. With its fall, the army lost much of its defensive depth in Darfur, and RSF forces gained easier access to the center of the country.

Political and human importance: Fasher’s fall was not only a military defeat but also a symbolic blow to the central government. This event has increased the risk of Sudan’s disintegration and has provided the basis for the formation of a kind of “parallel government” in the West. From a human point of view, a disaster is taking place; More than one million people live in a critical situation, and famine and malnutrition are spreading rapidly. Reports indicate an increase in ethnic conflicts between Arab and non-Arab groups, which have left heavy casualties.

Regional consequences

RSF’s control over Darfur has also worried neighboring countries. Egypt sees Fasher’s fall as a threat to the security of its southern borders. Chad and Libya are facing a new wave of refugees and arms smuggling, and the United Arab Emirates, a supporter of RSF, has expanded its influence in western Sudan. International experts have warned that the continuation of this process may turn Sudan into a series of unstable states.

the result

Darfur and Fasher are symbols of Sudan’s identity and structural crisis. With an area equal to one-fifth of the country and rich natural resources, this region could have been an engine of growth and stability, but the war has turned it into one of the biggest humanitarian crises in Africa. The fall of Fasher showed that the crisis in Sudan is no longer just domestic, but has regional and even international consequences. The inaction of the international community can lead to the complete collapse of the country. Sudan’s future depends on domestic will to negotiate and external support for reconstruction. Without it, the Darfur war could be the beginning of the collapse of Africa’s second largest country, a disaster whose effects will reach beyond the Nile Valley and into the heart of West Africa.