Video shows RSF celebrating at key army base in Sudanpublished at 12:01 GMT
12:01 GMT
Kumar Malhotra and Peter Mwai
BBC Verify
Image source, TelegramImage caption,
RSF fighters seen celebrating at the 6th Division HQ base in el-Fasher
We’ve been looking at footage coming out of the city of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which has been bitterly contested between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for more than a year.
In the last 24 hours, the RSF has posted a number videos of fighters celebrating the capture of the Sudanese army’s 6th Division headquarters, which is located close to key government buildings in the heart of the city.
We were able to match features in parts of these videos to buildings seen at the army base on Google Earth.
In one video, the sign for the 6th Division is clearly visible and a symbol that matches images found on a Facebook page dedicated to this army unit.
In another video showing RSF fighters, the distinctive twin minarets of the Sultan Ali Dinar mosque – a major landmark in the city close to the base – were briefly visible in the background.
We also have reverse image searched multiple frames from the videos, which confirm they are new.
In recent weeks the RSF had been steadily taking control of areas near the army base.
The RSF has now claimed full control of el-Fasher, but Sudan’s government has contested this and said its forces still control some areas.