Sudan's el-Fasher has symbolism that hasn't died

"North Darfur's capital fell to Rapid Support Forces yet remains a political and spiritual city that cannot be overlooked. El-Fasher has a special place in the consciousness of many Sudanese people. For them, it is more than the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan. It is deeply rooted, historically and culturally, in the national identity. Between its first fall in 1916 at the hands of British forces and its second fall in October to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group,"

"Since the era of Sultan Ali Dinar (1898-1916), el-Fasher had been a hub for knowledge, religious education and spiritual heritage. It was a place where the Kiswa, the black cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, was made. Many researchers of Sudanese heritage argue that after the end of the sultanate, the city's spiritual dimension continued to shape the collective consciousness of the inhabitants of Darfur."

"More than a century after that historic fall, el-Fasher fell again, this time to the RSF, which, according to local reports and Sudanese government officials, pointed to foreign intervention in support of the paramilitary. The RSF had besieged the city for more than 18 months. Tens of thousands of people were displaced, and according to the Sudan Doctors Network, at least 1,500 people were killed in 48 hours after the RSF took control of el-Fasher."

El-Fasher served as North Darfur's political, spiritual and social centre, with roots in the Sultanate of Ali Dinar (1898–1916) and a long tradition of religious education and craft, including producing the Kiswa. The city symbolized resistance after British forces occupied it in November 1916 and ended the independent Darfur Sultanate. More than a century later, el-Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces after an eighteen‑month siege. Tens of thousands were displaced, and Sudan Doctors Network reported at least 1,500 killed within 48 hours of the takeover. Local and government sources pointed to foreign intervention supporting the RSF. The city has been known for tribal and cultural diversity.

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