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Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces say they have captured the army headquarters in the city of al-Fashir, the Sudanese army's last stronghold in the Darfur region in the west of the country.

A video posted by the RSF showed its soldiers cheering in front of a sign for the army's Sixth Infantry base.

Reuters was able to verify the location but not the date.

The army did not immediately give a statement on its current position.

Capture of al-Fashir would be a significant political victory for the RSF that could hasten a physical split of the country, by enabling the paramilitary group to consolidate its control over the vast Darfur region which it has claimed as the base for a parallel government established this year.

Yet some activists have long warned that an RSF takeover of the city would also lead to ethnic attacks, as seen after the capture of the Zamzam camp to the south.

The RSF had besieged the city, capital of North Darfur state, for the past 18 months as it fights the army and allied former rebels and local fighters.

It has targeted civilians in frequent drone and artillery strikes while the siege has led to starvation among the 250,000 people who remain in the west of the city.

Reuters was unable to reach residents of al-Fashir, who rely on Starlink terminals to access the internet given a long-term telecom blackout.