A harrowing report from a UN-mandated fact-finding mission has revealed that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) perpetrated acts that “bear the hallmarks of genocide” during their 18-month siege of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Investigators documented extensive violence and systematic targeting of the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic groups, culminating in atrocities that demand urgent global accountability.
Unfolding Atrocities in El Fasher
The RSF’s occupation of El Fasher, which began in October 2025, was characterised by brutal violence aimed at decimating local communities. Mohamed Chande Othman, chair of the investigative mission, highlighted that the scale and orchestration of these acts were indicative of an intentional campaign against specific ethnic demographics. “The crimes committed in and around El Fasher were not random excesses of war,” Othman stated, calling for a comprehensive inquiry into the actions of those responsible.
The report’s release coincides with escalating violence across Sudan, particularly in the Kordofan region, where drone strikes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties. UNICEF reported that at least 15 children were killed in a recent strike on a displacement camp in West Kordofan, while another attack on a market in North Kordofan claimed 28 lives. The RSF and the Sudanese army have been implicated in these air assaults, further complicating the already dire humanitarian situation.
The Human Cost of Conflict
Since the outbreak of hostilities in April 2023, millions have been displaced, and tens of thousands have died. The RSF, formed from the notorious Janjaweed militias, has been accused of reviving the atrocities committed during the early 2000s, when a campaign in Darfur resulted in the deaths of an estimated 300,000 people and displaced 2.7 million. The ongoing conflict is now deemed one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with 11 million people forced to flee their homes amidst relentless violence.
The report reveals that the RSF inflicted “three days of absolute horror” following their capture of El Fasher, with thousands suffering from killings, rapes, and enforced disappearances. Eyewitness accounts describe a nightmarish reality in which RSF fighters acted with impunity and expressed genocidal intent. Sexual violence was rampant, with victims ranging from young girls to elderly women. One particularly devastating account detailed the rape of a 12-year-old girl in front of her mother, shortly before her father was shot dead in an attempt to protect her.
International Response and Accountability
In the wake of the report, the US government announced sanctions against three RSF commanders, citing their roles in the siege and capture of El Fasher. The US Treasury condemned the RSF for committing “ethnic killings, torture, starvation, and sexual violence.” The international community, including the UK, Canada, and the European Union, has also expressed grave concerns about the potential for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan.
As the conflict continues to evolve, attention is shifting from Darfur to Kordofan, where the RSF is reportedly intensifying its campaign of violence. Investigators who conducted the UN mission interviewed over 320 witnesses, corroborating their findings with extensive video evidence. The need for decisive international action to bring perpetrators to justice is more urgent than ever.
Why it Matters
The findings of this report underscore the critical need for global intervention in Sudan as the RSF continues its genocidal campaign against vulnerable ethnic communities. As violence escalates and humanitarian conditions deteriorate, the international community must act swiftly to hold the perpetrators accountable and prevent further atrocities. The plight of those trapped in the conflict serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights and dignity in a region marked by historical violence and systemic oppression.
