The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been ousted from El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after enduring a year-long siege. This development has given the RSF the upper hand in the western Darfur region, as officials reported on Tuesday.
A statement from the Joint Forces, affiliated with the Sudanese military, accused the RSF of committing “heinous crimes” against civilians in El Fasher. They claim that over 2,000 unarmed individuals, mostly women, children, and the elderly, were executed on October 26 and 27.
One report noted that more than 460 patients and their companions were killed at a maternity hospital in El Fasher, according to the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He emphasized the urgent need for all attacks on healthcare facilities to cease immediately.
The ongoing conflict has reportedly led to around 150,000 deaths and forced 14 million people to flee their homes. Since April 2023, the SAF has aimed to thwart the RSF’s efforts to establish a separate governance structure in the area.
Commander Abdel Fattah Al Burhan announced on Monday that he would withdraw from El Fasher to save remaining civilians and the city itself from destruction. He expressed confidence that, ultimately, the Sudanese people would prevail, asserting a commitment to rid the area of “filth” and eliminate mercenaries.
In a statement on Sunday, the RSF claimed their intention was to safeguard civilians in al-Fashir, previously held by the Islamic Movement Army and associated militias. They added that they would provide safe passage for anyone wanting to leave and protect those remaining in the city.
One refugee told Reuters about her harrowing escape from Al-Fashir with her four injured children. She described the chaos, stating, “We were running and they were chasing us,” while missiles were fired nearby. She became separated from her husband after being stopped by an RSF barrier.
Other refugees recounted how the RSF separated men from women, compelling them to line up and join their ranks. Tragically, some were reportedly beaten to death for not volunteering.
Refugees described horrific scenes, with one survivor saying, “They shot them in front of us.” Although women and children were eventually allowed to leave, the sounds of gunfire and violence lingered. One woman stated that the soldiers instructed them to proceed, but the men who followed never returned.
Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the RSF and allied militias of genocide in January, asserting that they targeted civilians fleeing the violence and obstructed their access to essential resources. He highlighted the specific targeting of women and girls from certain ethnic backgrounds for sexual violence and noted that men and boys were also targeted based on ethnicity.
Blinken concluded that, based on available evidence, the RSF and its affiliated militias had committed genocide in Sudan.
