Reports are escalating of severe atrocities in El-Fasher, western Sudan, after its capture by paramilitaries, with allies of the army accusing fighters of executing over 2,000 civilians. El-Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after more than 18 months of brutal siege warfare, giving the group control over all state capitals in Darfur.
Allies of the Sudanese army, the Joint Forces, reported that RSF forces committed heinous crimes against unarmed civilians on 26 and 27 October, most of whom were women, children, and the elderly.
Moreover, Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab warned that El-Fasher’s fall could trigger mass atrocities, with the use of open-source intelligence and satellite imagery, the lab said the city appears to be undergoing a calculated campaign of ethnic cleansing against Fur, Zaghawa, and Berti communities through forced displacement and summary executions. The report also indicated “door-to-door clearance operations,” suggesting a systematic attempt at ethnic targeting.
Potential War Crimes and International Response
A Monday report warned these actions may constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and even genocide. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk expressed alarm over the escalating violence, citing reports of summary executions and atrocities by RSF forces in El-Fasher. Pro-democracy activists, meanwhile, described the situation as “the worst violence and ethnic cleansing” since RSF forces took control. A video authenticated by AFP shows a fighter executing unarmed civilians at point-blank range, highlighting the brutal realities.
Additionally, the paramilitaries have a history of atrocities, including the killing of up to 15,000 civilians in West Darfur’s El-Geneina. The Sudanese army, fighting RSF since April 2023, has also faced accusations of war crimes as the conflict worsens.
More than 18 months of siege warfare turned El-Fasher into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Displacement camps outside the city face famine, and inside, residents have had to resort to animal fodder for food. The UN identified 260,000 trapped civilians in El-Fasher, half of whom are children, with no aid flowing into the city.
International Reactions and Future Prospects
Consequently, the African Union’s chairman, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, condemned the reported atrocities and called for urgent action to stop the violence. However, Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced withdrawal from El-Fasher for safety reasons but vowed to “fight until this land is purified.” Experts warn that the war’s ongoing nature risks deeper division, with the country effectively partitioned along east-west lines.
Analysts like AFP’s Alan Boswell warn that, “The longer this war drags on, the more entrenched these divisions will become.”
Meanwhile, the UAE’s adviser Anwar Gargash described the city’s fall as a “turning point,” stressing that “the political path is the only way to end the civil war.” The UAE and other regional players, along with the US, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, have proposed a ceasefire and transitional government. However, negotiations last week in Washington made no progress, and both sides remain entrenched in conflict.
Despite claims of denials from involved nations, the situation in Sudan remains dire, with no immediate resolution in sight.
