A recent report by UN-backed human rights experts has pointed out that Sudanese paramilitary forces engaged in a “campaign of destruction” in October against non-Arab communities in and around Darfur’s El Fasher city, displaying characteristics indicative of genocide. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in conflict with the Sudanese military, committed mass killings and other atrocities during an 18-month siege, specifically targeting Zaghawa and Fur communities.
According to the independent fact-finding mission on Sudan, the RSF’s actions led to the death of several thousand civilians in El Fasher, with only 40% of the city’s population able to escape the violence, leaving many wounded and a significant number unaccounted for. The conflict in Sudan, which began in mid-April 2023, has resulted in over 40,000 deaths, although aid organizations believe the actual toll could be much higher.
The RSF’s offensive in El Fasher last October involved widespread atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, torture, and abductions for ransom, as reported by the UN Human Rights Office. The RSF is accused of killing over 6,000 people between October 25 and 27, including at least 300 individuals in the Abu Shouk displacement camp before the city’s takeover.
The fact-finding team highlighted three criteria for genocide that were met by the RSF’s actions, including ethnically targeted killings, sexual violence, and deliberate efforts to physically destroy non-Arab communities. The team emphasized that these were not random acts of war but a planned genocide with organized operations.
The report documented instances of RSF fighters selectively targeting Zaghawa and Fur women and girls, while sparing those perceived as Arab. The team emphasized the urgent need for accountability for the perpetrators and stressed the importance of protecting civilians as the conflict expands to other regions in Sudan.
The RSF, previously part of the Janjaweed militias infamous for their brutal campaign in Darfur in the early 2000s, has been accused of widespread atrocities. The group’s leader, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has acknowledged abuses by his forces but disputed the extent of the reported atrocities. The international community has been called upon to take action to prevent further atrocities and ensure justice for the victims.