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Türkiye has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the city of el-Fasher and its surrounding areas in Sudan, urging the protection of civilians and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid amid escalating violence between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In a statement Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said Ankara is following the latest developments in Sudan with deep concern and concurs with the statements made by the Arab League on the matter.
“We strongly condemn the atrocities committed against civilians in el-Fasher, which recently fell under the control of the RSF,” the ministry said.
Türkiye also called for safe passage, the end of attacks on innocent civilians, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance. “We reaffirm our clear support for Sudan’s unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, and emphasize the importance of dialogue to find a peaceful solution to the conflict,” the statement added.
The civil war in Sudan has raged since April 2023, displacing over 14 million people and leaving thousands dead. The RSF, which already controls four of Darfur’s five provincial capitals, has besieged el-Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, since May 2024 and recently claimed control of the city after heavy clashes, prompting reports of mass civilian killings.
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), intensified fighting in el-Fasher has forced thousands to flee. UNHCR Sudan Office Head Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet said the RSF’s takeover after a 500-day siege has triggered widespread fear, with about 26,000 people fleeing in recent days.
Parlevliet expressed concern that many civilians remain trapped in the city with limited options for escape and added that U.N. agencies have repeatedly called for safe passage and humanitarian pauses, though aid access remains impossible.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and the Arab League condemned the RSF’s attacks on civilians in el-Fasher. Riyadh denounced the “grave humanitarian violations” and urged adherence to the May 2023 Jeddah Declaration on civilian protection. Cairo called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, while Doha decried the “horrific violations” committed by the RSF. The Arab League also condemned the “heinous crimes” against civilians and called for a cease-fire.
The European Union expressed “serious concern” over the escalating violence, stressing that access to food, water, and medical supplies has been severely restricted for hundreds of thousands of people. Germany also condemned the “shocking killings,” urging the RSF to immediately stop indiscriminate attacks on civilians.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said six health workers from the partially functioning Saudi Hospital in el-Fasher were abducted following attacks on the facility. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for their “immediate and unconditional release.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urged all sides to protect civilians and ensure access to aid, warning that thousands remain trapped without food. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) similarly warned of “mass casualties” and called for allowing civilians to flee to safer areas.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 26,000 people were displaced between Oct. 26–27, mostly to rural areas around el-Fasher and to the nearby town of Tawila, where security conditions remain dire.
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