The rapid seizure of Al-Faschir by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has unleashed a fresh wave of harrowing accounts detailing systematic violence against civilians and a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region. After a grueling 17-month siege, the fall of this key military stronghold marks a significant escalation in the conflict, prompting urgent calls for international intervention.
Despite international condemnation, the RSF has attempted to portray itself as a stabilizing force, even releasing a video ostensibly showcasing its fighters detaining Abu Lulu, a notorious operative previously celebrated on TikTok for boasting of the killing of approximately 2,000 people. This calculated public relations maneuver stands in stark contrast to the testimonies emerging from survivors.
Reports from Al-Faschir paint a grim picture of mass executions and targeted attacks on civilian populations attempting to flee the violence. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) has received accounts of a group of 500 civilians and soldiers ambushed on October 26th, with most killed or captured during their attempt to escape. One witness recounted being spared only because a fighter recognized him, while all others in his group of 300 were systematically murdered.
A UN Fact-Finding Mission has reported evidence suggesting a “deliberate pattern of ethnically targeted killings” underscoring the calculated nature of the violence. Survivors describe systematic checkpoints where individuals were segregated based on gender, age and perceived ethnicity. Disturbingly, numerous women have come forward with accounts of sexual violence, including one 19-year-old woman who reported being raped after being questioned about her virginity. Others narrowly avoided similar assaults.
The RSF’s actions extend beyond immediate killings, encompassing widespread hostage-taking and extortion. Detainees are reportedly being held for ransom, with demands ranging from approximately €7,000 to €43,000 and in some cases, up to €27,000 was reportedly extorted to secure release.
Adding to the crisis, the RSF and its allies are actively impeding the movement of civilians seeking refuge in safer zones like Tawila. While the UN estimates over 62,000 people have fled Al-Faschir, only an estimated 5,000 have reached Tawila in the initial five days, leaving the fate of more than 50,000 individuals unknown and raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being. The international community faces mounting pressure to address this escalating catastrophe and hold perpetrators accountable for the unfolding atrocities.
