Sudan’s RSF Accused of Crimes Against Humanity in El-Fasher, Amnesty Report Claims

Sudan s RSF committed crimes against – The conflict in Sudan has reached a critical juncture, with recent reports highlighting severe human rights violations by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city of El-Fasher. According to a study by Amnesty International, over 6,000 civilians lost their lives last year during the RSF’s campaign to seize control of the western Darfur region. This violence, which included systematic attacks and targeted killings, is now described as a campaign of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. The group’s findings underscore the devastating impact of the RSF’s actions on local populations, particularly non-Arab communities in the area.

Escalating Violence in El-Fasher

El-Fasher, a key city in western Sudan, became the epicenter of one of the most brutal episodes in the country’s ongoing civil war. The RSF, alongside the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), has been engaged in a power struggle that has lasted three years. However, the focus of the latest atrocities shifted to El-Fasher after the RSF was forced out of the capital, Khartoum, in March of last year. The group then intensified its efforts to expand its influence, capturing El-Fasher and extending its reach into neighboring Kordofan states. This offensive, which lasted 18 months, was marked by relentless attacks and widespread displacement.

Amnesty International’s report, released on Wednesday, details numerous accounts of survivors and victims, painting a grim picture of the RSF’s conduct. The organization claims that the forces were implicated in atrocities classified as crimes against humanity, including murder, imprisonment, and sexual violence. “Children were not collateral damage of this violence—often, they were deliberately targeted and have suffered immensely,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary general. She emphasized the systematic nature of the attacks, which saw thousands of civilians injured, raped, and forcibly recruited.

Testimonies and Evidence of Ethnic Targeting

“They tied me up and beat me with sticks and the back of an AK-47. Then one of them approached on a camel and… just shot me in the leg,” recounted a 17-year-old survivor from Abu Zerega, a town south of El-Fasher. The boy, who now relies on crutches to walk, described how eight of his cousins—four of whom were between 11 and 17 years old—were killed in the same incident. His account is part of a broader pattern of violence documented by Amnesty, which reviewed 89 open-source videos and analyzed satellite imagery to corroborate the claims.

Researchers at Amnesty International highlight that many victims were targeted based on their ethnic identity. Arab RSF fighters systematically attacked members of local non-Arab communities, often using derogatory slurs such as “slave” or “servant” to justify their actions. This ethnic targeting is not new; Arab militias linked to the RSF have long been accused of perpetrating violence against black African groups in Darfur. In El-Fasher, the defending forces were primarily from the Zaghawa ethnic group, and the RSF’s assault included attacks on both civilians and combatants.

The United Nations has also weighed in, calling the events in El-Fasher “hallmarks of genocide.” In its own report, the UN noted that more than 6,000 people were killed in just three days of the RSF’s siege, a figure that has fueled international concern. The scale of the carnage, combined with the deliberate targeting of children and the use of sexual violence as a weapon, has drawn comparisons to some of the most severe atrocities in modern history. “The world was warned of the horrors that civilians in El-Fasher confronted as the RSF laid siege to the city,” Callamard reiterated, stressing the need for urgent international intervention.

The Human Cost of the Conflict

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has worsened dramatically, with over 14 million people displaced and 28 million facing acute hunger, according to aid agencies. The conflict, which began in 2019, has already claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, and the recent escalation in El-Fasher has only deepened the suffering. Survivors describe scenes of chaos, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and families torn apart by the violence. The RSF’s tactics, which include both physical and psychological brutality, have left lasting scars on the population.

Amnesty International’s report is a significant addition to the growing body of evidence against the RSF. The organization has identified specific commanders responsible for breaches of international law, urging the Sudanese government to hold them accountable. Despite this, the RSF leadership has acknowledged some violations but maintains that the scale of the atrocities is being exaggerated. “We are investigating the incidents, but the accounts of mass killings and systematic abuse may be overstated,” a RSF spokesperson said in a recent statement.

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to unfold with little respite. The ongoing power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF has destabilized the region, creating a volatile environment where civilians are caught in the crossfire. International pressure has mounted on the warring factions, with calls for an immediate ceasefire and the deployment of peacekeeping forces to safeguard vulnerable populations. The UN has already labeled El-Fasher as a potential genocide site, prompting further scrutiny of the RSF’s actions.

Calls for Justice and Immediate Action

Callamard, the head of Amnesty International, has called for swift accountability, emphasizing that the crimes committed in El-Fasher represent a “stain on the conscience of humanity.” She argued that the evidence gathered—ranging from video footage to testimonies—provides a compelling case for the RSF’s involvement in genocide. “This is not just a local conflict; it is a global crisis that demands action,” she stated.

Survivors’ stories, such as the one shared by the 17-year-old boy, illustrate the personal toll of the war. His account, along with dozens of others, forms the backbone of Amnesty’s claims. The organization’s findings align with the UN’s assessment, reinforcing the gravity of the situation. As the conflict drags on, the need for justice grows more urgent, with international bodies urging Sudan to prioritize civilian protection and investigate the full extent of the violence.

Amnesty’s report also highlights the role of sexual violence in the RSF’s strategy. Women and children were frequently subjected to rape and sexual slavery, with perpetrators using these acts to demoralize communities and assert dominance. The organization argues that such tactics are not incidental but are part of a calculated effort to instill fear and control. This pattern of violence has been documented in multiple locations, underscoring the RSF’s systematic approach to warfare.

As the situation in Sudan remains dire, the international community is under increasing pressure to respond. The conflict has not only caused widespread death and displacement but has also disrupted access to basic necessities, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. With over 6,000 confirmed deaths in El-Fasher alone, the world must act swiftly to prevent further suffering and ensure justice for the victims. The RSF’s denial of previous accusations, while notable, does little to quell the outcry for accountability and an end to the violence.

The road to resolution remains uncertain, but the evidence presented by Amnesty International and the UN provides a clear path forward. As the RSF continues its campaign, the focus must shift from military dominance to the protection of civilians and the prosecution of war crimes. The stories of those who survived the attacks in El-Fasher serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the urgent need for intervention.