Horrific scenes following the most recent tragedy in Sudan’s civil conflict depict vast areas of sand drenched in blood and heaps of corpses. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, conducted a fatal attack on El Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region, expelling the Sudanese army from its final stronghold in the area during the ongoing two-year civil war.
Analysts from Yale University estimated that over 2,000 civilians lost their lives after the army withdrew from El Fasher, leaving a significant population under the control of the paramilitaries. Aerial imagery of the city’s Daraja Oula neighborhood revealed objects resembling human bodies and reddish discoloration on the ground, suggesting the presence of blood pools.
Satellite photos exhibited elongated shapes near vehicles and sand barriers, with newer images displaying bloodstains that were absent in previous photos. Witnesses reported civilians being shot while attempting to escape, with multiple body piles found around the city.
Yale researchers described the situation in El Fasher as a deliberate ethnic cleansing effort targeting indigenous non-Arab communities through displacement and executions. The RSF, according to local militia, committed atrocious acts against innocent civilians, predominantly women, children, and the elderly.
Footage circulating on social media depicted RSF fighters engaging in celebratory activities and violent acts, including shootings and beatings of fleeing individuals. The UN Human Rights Office received distressing reports of summary executions and other atrocities committed by the RSF.
In response to the escalating violence, the Sudanese army evacuated El Fasher, citing the RSF’s severe actions against civilians. General Abdel-Fattah Burhan expressed a commitment to seek justice for the victims and protect the remaining population from further harm.
International concerns mounted as reports emerged of systematic killings, torture, and looting of essential facilities by RSF fighters in El Fasher. Human rights organizations condemned the capture and mistreatment of civilians, labeling the events as potential war crimes.
The Sudanese Doctor Network and other groups highlighted the RSF’s brutal tactics, urging global intervention to address the crisis and designate the RSF as a terrorist entity. The situation in El Fasher raised alarms about the safety and rights of civilians in conflict-affected areas.