A new report from Amnesty International has documented what it describes as a deliberate campaign of violence by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against civilians in the city of el-Fasher, amounting to crimes against humanity. The findings, released today, detail a series of systematic attacks between April and June 2023, including targeted killings, sexual violence, and the destruction of homes and markets. According to the report, at least 1,200 civilians were killed in the RSF’s assault, with thousands more displaced.
The organisation’s evidence draws on satellite imagery, survivor testimony, and forensic analysis, painting a picture of a coordinated military operation designed to terrorise the population. The RSF has denied the allegations, claiming that it is fighting rebel groups. However, Amnesty’s data shows a clear pattern of attacks on residential areas, hospitals, and schools, with no military targets in the vicinity.
The international community has been slow to respond, with the United Nations Security Council yet to adopt a resolution on the matter. The report calls for an arms embargo and the referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court. For the people of el-Fasher, this is not a distant political calculation but a lived catastrophe.
The physical evidence of mass graves and burned-out neighbourhoods now demands a legal and moral reckoning.
