Amnesty International has today accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces of committing crimes against humanity in the city of el-Fasher, where a brutal massacre claimed dozens of civilian lives. The human rights group’s report, released this morning, details systematic attacks on unarmed residents, including summary executions, sexual violence, and the widespread destruction of homes and markets.
For families in el-Fasher, this is the latest chapter in a long-running conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army that has already displaced millions. “What we saw in el-Fasher was not a clash between warring factions. It was a coordinated assault on ordinary people,” said an Amnesty researcher who documented witness accounts. The report cites survivors describing fighters going door to door, dragging men from their homes, and shooting them in the street. Women were subjected to gang rapes, and children watched as their parents were killed.
The RSF, a paramilitary force born from the Janjaweed militias of the Darfur genocide, has denied involvement. But Amnesty’s evidence includes satellite imagery showing burned neighbourhoods and mass graves, as well as testimonies from medical workers who treated the wounded. The group says the attacks amount to crimes against humanity, and calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate.
This accusation comes as Sudan’s economy lies in ruins. The war has driven inflation to over 300 per cent, and basic goods like bread and cooking oil are out of reach for many. In el-Fasher, a city already battered by years of conflict, the massacre has left survivors traumatised and destitute. “They took everything. My husband, my son, my house. Now I have nothing,” said one woman, who fled to a makeshift camp on the outskirts of the city.
The international response has been muted. The United Nations has condemned the violence but lacks the mandate to intervene. The African Union has called for a ceasefire, but neither side has shown willingness to negotiate. For the people of el-Fasher, this feels like yet another betrayal. “The world watches while we die,” said a local shopkeeper, whose brother was killed in the attack.
Amnesty’s report is a stark reminder that the conflict in Sudan is not merely a political struggle. It is a war against civilians. The RSF’s actions, if proven, represent the worst atrocities seen in the region since the Darfur crisis two decades ago. But without accountability, there is little hope for justice.
As the death toll in el-Fasher climbs, the question remains: how many more must die before the world acts?
