UN Mission Concludes RSF Siege of El Fasher in Sudan Exhibits Genocidal Characteristics
A United Nations-mandated fact-finding mission has determined that the siege and capture of the Sudanese city of El Fasher by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces group last October displayed "the hallmarks of genocide." The report, released amid ongoing conflict, details an 18-month occupation of North Darfur's capital, revealing systematic efforts to destroy the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic communities.
Deliberate Destruction and Ethnic Targeting
Investigators concluded that the RSF and allied militias intentionally created conditions aimed at the physical annihilation of specific ethnic groups. "The scale, coordination, and public endorsement of the operation by senior RSF leadership demonstrate that the crimes committed in and around El Fasher were not random excesses of war," stated Mohamed Chande Othman, the mission's chair. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the perpetrators, highlighting the planned nature of the atrocities.
Widespread Atrocities and Humanitarian Crisis
The report documents horrific violence following El Fasher's seizure, including:
- Thousands of people, particularly from the Zaghawa ethnic group, were killed, raped, or disappeared.
- Widespread sexual violence against girls and women aged seven to 70, often involving severe physical abuse and occurring in locations of mass killings.
- Incidents such as the rape of a 12-year-old girl by three RSF fighters as her mother watched, leading to the girl's death from injuries.
- Public gang rapes of at least 19 women in rooms filled with corpses, including victims' husbands.
This violence is part of a broader war that has forced 11 million people to flee their homes, killed tens of thousands, and triggered what the UN describes as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
International Context and Recent Developments
The report's publication coincides with international condemnations and ongoing violence:
- The UK, Canada, and the European Union recently denounced possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan.
- Recent drone strikes in Sudan's Kordofan region have left dozens dead, including at least 15 children in a displacement camp attack blamed on the Sudanese army.
- The US has imposed sanctions on three RSF commanders for their roles in the El Fasher operation, citing ethnic killings, torture, starvation, and sexual violence.
Historical Background and Regional Impact
The RSF, which grew out of the Janjaweed militias notorious for atrocities in Darfur in the early 2000s, has been waging war against the Sudanese army since April 2023. This conflict stems from a fallout between RSF commander Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo and army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, former allies who rose to power after the 2019 revolution. The RSF has received backing from the United Arab Emirates, despite denials and evidence compiled by the UN and independent experts.
As the conflict shifts from Darfur to Kordofan, the mission urges outside countries to act decisively to hold perpetrators accountable and end the violence, warning of continued impunity and genocidal intent.
