Late on 19 September 2025, a drone strike hit a mosque during dawn prayers in El‑Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, killing more than 70 people, in what local authorities say was an attack by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The mosque struck is in the Alb‑Daraja / Al‑Daraja Al‑Ula neighbourhood, and worshippers had gathered for the early morning (Fajr) prayer. Many people were reportedly displaced persons who had sought refuge in El‑Fasher or in displaced‑persons camps nearby, including Abu Shouk, which itself has been under heavy strain and attack.
Witnesses and volunteer groups say that the mosque was destroyed or severely damaged, with bodies retrieved from under the rubble. Injuries are many, and because rescue work is ongoing, the death toll may rise.
The attack prompted outrage and condemnation. Sudan’s army, local relief agencies, and medical networks described the strike as a war crime, pointing out that attacking a place of worship during prayers is a grave breach of international humanitarian law. The African Union also condemned the attack, highlighting that more than 75 innocent worshippers lost their lives.
This strike is one of the deadliest in El‑Fasher since the RSF laid siege to the city last year. The broader civil war in Sudan—between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces—has already caused large numbers of civilian casualties, widespread displacement, and destruction of infrastructure. El‑Fasher remains one of the key frontlines, especially as it is a remaining stronghold of the army in Darfur.
