The fall of El Fasher, the last stronghold of the Sudanese military in Darfur, to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) represents a dire new chapter in Sudan’s 31-month conflict. Reports of widespread atrocities, including summary executions and ethnically motivated violence, have emerged, prompting urgent calls from the international community for civilian protection and accountability amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The strategic city of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, has fallen to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a development the United Nations chief has termed a “terrible escalation” in Sudan’s protracted conflict. This takeover, alongside the capture of Bara City in North Kordofan, has unleashed a fresh wave of alarming reports detailing severe human rights violations and a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.
A Conflict’s Dire Trajectory: El Fasher and Bara Under Siege
The war in Sudan began in April 2023, stemming from long-simmering tensions between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary RSF. Over the past 31 months, the conflict has spread across the country, turning urban centers into battlegrounds. El Fasher, in particular, had been under an RSF siege for 18 months before its eventual fall, with residents facing severe food shortages and exorbitant prices.
On October 26, 2025, the RSF announced its takeover of the army’s 6th infantry division in El Fasher, leading to the military’s withdrawal. General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, the military chief, stated the army retreated to protect civilians from further violence and the “systemic destruction” by the RSF, as reported by the Associated Press.
Similarly, Bara City in North Kordofan state was captured by the RSF on October 25 after a major offensive. These territorial gains signal a significant shift in the conflict, raising profound concerns about regional stability and the fate of civilian populations.
Horrifying Reports of Atrocities and Human Rights Violations
Following the RSF’s advances, multiple organizations have received alarming reports of atrocities. The UN Human Rights Office highlighted “appalling reports of summary executions and other serious violations,” with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressing grave concern over the “extremely precarious situation” and the mounting risk of “large-scale, ethnically motivated violations.”
Key reported violations include:
- Summary Executions: Civilians attempting to flee El Fasher were reportedly executed, some with indications of ethnic motivations. Distressing videos received by UN Human Rights depict dozens of unarmed men being shot or lying dead, accused of being SAF fighters. In Bara City, dozens of civilians were reportedly killed, accused of supporting the Sudanese Armed Forces. Even attempts to bring food supplies into besieged El Fasher led to the summary execution of five men by RSF fighters.
- Detention and Abduction: Hundreds of people have been detained while trying to flee, including a journalist. The Sudan Doctors Network also reported the abduction of five medical workers (four doctors, a pharmacist, and a nurse) from El Fasher.
- Sexual Violence: Given past realities in North Darfur, the likelihood of sexual violence against women and girls is considered extremely high by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Human Rights Office press release.
- Attacks on Humanitarian Workers: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced the killing of five volunteers and the disappearance of three others in Bara while distributing food, despite being clearly identifiable in uniform.
- Heavy Artillery Shelling: Numerous civilian deaths, including local humanitarian volunteers, occurred due to heavy artillery shelling in El Fasher from October 22 to 26.
Evidence from Satellite Imagery and Eyewitness Accounts
The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab published a report utilizing satellite imagery from Airbus, taken on October 27, 2025. This analysis highlighted scenes in El Fasher’s Daraja Oula neighborhood, showing gun-mounted trucks (“technicals”) forming roadblocks and “objects consistent with the size of human bodies on the ground near RSF vehicles,” including at least five instances of reddish earth discoloration.
Social media has been flooded with graphic footage depicting fighters in RSF uniforms shooting and beating people attempting to flee, as well as troops on vehicles and camels roaming city streets. One video reportedly showed young people wearing Sudanese Red Crescent vests being held and beaten by an armed fighter, underscoring the severe risks faced by aid workers and civilians alike.
Historical Echoes and International Condemnation
The RSF’s actions resonate with a dark history; the paramilitary force emerged from the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias responsible for genocide during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s. This historical context intensifies fears, especially given the Biden administration’s declaration that the RSF and its allies are committing genocide in the current war.
International figures have strongly condemned the escalating violence:
- Volker Türk urged the RSF to take concrete steps to prevent abuses, including ethnically motivated violence and reprisal attacks, emphasizing obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and ensure aid passage. He reiterated that violence against individuals no longer participating in hostilities (hors de combat) and the use of starvation as a weapon of war are strictly prohibited.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an end to foreign military support to warring parties, noting “growing external interference that undermines prospects for a ceasefire and a political solution.”
- Amnesty International’s Tigere Chagutah called the reports from El Fasher “horrifying,” urging the RSF to cease attacks and allow humanitarian access, and demanding accountability for all responsible for atrocities.
Humanitarian Crisis and Future Implications
The fall of El Fasher exacerbates an already dire humanitarian crisis. Over 14 million people have fled their homes, and the conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives, a figure widely believed to be a significant underestimate. Parts of the country, including the El Fasher area, are plunged into famine.
The UN migration agency estimates over 26,000 people have fled El Fasher since the escalation, with more than 4,200 reaching camps in Tawila. These displaced populations face immense challenges, including lack of food, shelter, and medical care.
The Sudanese government, in a surprising move, ordered the expulsion of the Country Director and Director of Operations of the World Food Program, declaring them “persona non grata.” While claiming this decision wouldn’t affect cooperation, it adds another layer of complexity to humanitarian efforts already hampered by severe access restrictions and active conflict.
Analysts warn that the RSF’s capture of El Fasher could potentially usher in another split of Sudan, reminiscent of South Sudan’s creation after years of conflict. The ongoing conflict, fueled by internal divisions and alleged external interference, continues to destabilize the region and inflict immense suffering on the Sudanese people.
The Path Forward: Calls for Protection and Accountability
In this dire context, the international community’s calls for action are intensifying. There is a critical need to ensure the protection of civilians in El Fasher and Bara, as well as safe passage for those seeking refuge. Furthermore, unimpeded access for essential supplies and humanitarian assistance remains paramount, a commitment the RSF publicly made just days before these reports emerged.
Ensuring accountability for violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law by all parties to the conflict is deemed crucial to prevent “fresh cycles of violations and abuses.” Member states with influence are urged to act urgently to prevent large-scale atrocities and to intensify pressure to bring an end to this intolerable conflict.
