Geneva: A United Nations investigation has concluded that atrocities committed during the capture of al fashir in Sudan’s Darfur region show signs consistent with genocide, raising alarm over the scale of violence in the country’s ongoing civil war.
The UN fact finding mission reported that fighters from the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias carried out systematic attacks against non Arab communities, particularly the Zaghawa and Fur groups, during the October 2025 assault on the city after a prolonged siege.
Investigators documented mass killings, torture and deliberate starvation tactics. Civilians were reportedly targeted based on ethnicity, gender and perceived political loyalties, factors that meet key criteria under international law for genocide.
The mission said there is evidence of acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, including killing members of protected groups and creating living conditions intended to bring about their destruction. It also cited hate speech and threats aimed at removing certain ethnic communities from the city.
The scale of the violence was severe. UN sources reported that more than 6000 people were killed within three days during the offensive in late October 2025. Thousands remain missing, and only a portion of the city’s population managed to flee. Camps for displaced people, hospitals and shelters were also attacked, deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023 between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. The war has displaced millions and pushed large parts of the country toward famine.
Violence continues in other areas, with UN officials warning that attacks on civilian areas, including drone strikes, have killed dozens in recent weeks, including children.
The UN mission has called for urgent measures to protect civilians and for those responsible for abuses to be held accountable. The report, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council, adds to growing international pressure for sanctions, enforcement of arms embargoes and possible prosecutions.
Neither the Rapid Support Forces nor Sudan’s authorities responded to requests from investigators.
Humanitarian agencies warn that without immediate international action, the suffering in Darfur and across Sudan could worsen further.