RSF Militias Enter El Fasher, Leaving Destruction and Death Behind

Sudan Events – Agencies

On the bodies of displaced and brutalized civilians, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) celebrated their takeover of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State — a vital hub for humanitarian operations serving all five Darfur states. The city had been under a tight RSF siege since May 10, 2024, preventing humanitarian aid from reaching civilians.

A Terrifying Escalation

The RSF announced on Sunday that it had seized control of El Fasher and the headquarters of the Sudanese Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday of a “horrific escalation” of the conflict in El Fasher, describing the situation as “unbearable” and the suffering of Sudan’s people as “beyond endurance.”

A Gruesome Massacre

The Sudan Doctors’ Network reported Monday that RSF fighters carried out ethnically targeted killings in El Fasher, looting medical facilities and pharmacies.
In a press statement, the network said the militia executed unarmed civilians based on ethnicity in what it called a “crime of ethnic cleansing.”
Field reports indicate dozens of victims, though access to the affected areas remains extremely difficult due to total security collapse.
“The RSF not only took lives but also looted hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the areas it invaded — effectively destroying what remained of the city’s healthcare system,” the statement added, condemning the violations as “a blatant breach of international humanitarian law that prohibits attacks on civilians and medical facilities.”

Forced Displacement

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Sunday that hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped amid the intensifying fighting in El Fasher.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said that as fighters advance deeper into the city and escape routes are cut off, civilians remain “trapped in terror,” facing shelling, hunger, and lack of access to food, healthcare, or safety.
He expressed grave concern over reports of civilian casualties and forced displacement, calling for an immediate ceasefire in El Fasher, across Darfur, and throughout Sudan.
“Civilians must be allowed safe passage and access to humanitarian aid,” Fletcher said. “Those fleeing must be able to do so safely and with dignity, while those who remain — including local aid workers — must be protected. Attacks on civilians, hospitals, and humanitarian operations must stop immediately.”

Calls for International Intervention

Sudanese Prime Minister Kamal Idris urged international organizations to “intervene immediately,” telling Al Jazeera that reports from El Fasher and Bara show RSF forces committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing. He praised the Sudanese Armed Forces for their “resilience and adherence to humanitarian law.”

“El Fasher Has Fallen, But Darfur’s Future Has Not”

Darfur Governor and Sudan Liberation Movement leader Mini Arko Minawi acknowledged Monday that El Fasher had fallen to the RSF but stressed that “the fall of El Fasher does not mean surrendering Darfur’s future to violent groups.”
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Minawi called for the protection of civilians and an independent investigation into the atrocities committed “away from the public eye.”

“The World Is Watching”

Mossad Bolus, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for African Affairs, urged the RSF to act immediately to protect civilians and prevent further suffering in El Fasher.
He called on RSF commanders to issue and publicize clear orders ensuring the safety of civilians, humanitarian workers, and relief operations, stressing the need to open humanitarian corridors immediately.
“The world is watching El Fasher — and watching the RSF’s actions closely,” Bolus warned.

Horrific Footage Circulates Online

Numerous videos emerging from El Fasher since Sunday show RSF fighters terrorizing and executing civilians in cold blood.
The Joint Forces Command confirmed the death of its spokesperson, Colonel Ahmed Hussein Mustafa, who was killed defending the city, along with war correspondent Asiya Khalifa, known for her extensive coverage from El Fasher.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Muammar Ibrahim was reportedly detained by RSF fighters.

Unprecedented Brutality

Videos circulating on social media reveal the brutality and inhumanity of RSF actions against civilians, depicting acts that observers say amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The international community’s muted response — issuing only generic statements without direct condemnation — has sparked outrage, while political groups aligned with the RSF have expressed thinly veiled approval.
Even groups typically calling for peace, such as “Sumood,” have issued vague and cautious statements, stopping short of condemning RSF atrocities outright — a contrast to their loud criticism of the Sudanese army for far lesser incidents.

Facing a Humanitarian Catastrophe

Adam Regal, spokesperson for the Darfur Displaced Persons Association, described the situation as “catastrophic.”
He told Al-Muhaqiq that hundreds of displaced families had fled toward Tawila and possibly Jebel Marra under dire humanitarian conditions.
“We are facing a massive tragedy,” Regal said. “People are being terrorized, killed, and displaced. Urgent life-saving aid is needed — water, healthcare, nutrition, shelter, protection, education, and psychosocial support.”
He appealed to the UN and humanitarian agencies to provide minimum essential services to survivors living in horrific conditions.

“A War Without Balance”

Saleh Mansour, head of the Sudan Liberation Movement Office in the Middle East, described the humanitarian situation as “extremely dire.”
He said civilians in El Fasher were “stripped of everything — food, water, and safety — and are being executed on an ethnic basis.”
Mansour told Al-Muhaqiq that the battle was never balanced, as RSF fighters used drones and heavy weaponry against small army units under siege and starvation for over a year and a half.
“Despite that,” he said, “government forces fought bravely, repelling more than 250 attacks before being overwhelmed. The RSF may hold the city now, but it will not be able to maintain control. Its goal is political — to pressure for negotiations under the illusion of parity with the state.”

Source: Almohagig