El Fasher: A new report from the United Nations human rights office says Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces committed grave abuses against civilians during and after the capture of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in October 2025.
According to UN investigators, thousands of people were killed in the first days of the assault as fighters overran the city following a long siege. Witnesses described widespread killings, sexual violence, torture, looting, and the targeting of civilians attempting to flee.
The report states that many victims were shot while escaping and others died due to starvation and lack of medical care as humanitarian access collapsed. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed and homes burned, forcing large numbers of residents to flee into the desert with little food or water.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said the scale and severity of the violence may amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. He called for independent investigations and accountability for those responsible.
El Fasher had been surrounded for more than a year before its fall and had served as a refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Human rights observers had repeatedly warned that a full assault on the city could lead to mass atrocities.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the national army and the RSF. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and pushed more than half the population into humanitarian need.
Aid agencies say the fall of El Fasher has worsened an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Darfur. Many families remain trapped without food, shelter, or medical care, while others continue to flee to neighboring regions and countries.
Recent reports indicate that violence continues in parts of Sudan, including drone strikes and attacks on civilian areas, raising fears that further atrocities could occur if the fighting persists.
The United Nations and human rights groups are urging the international community to enforce the arms embargo, ensure protection for civilians, and support efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.