Amnesty International has released a damning report accusing Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing crimes against humanity in the city of el-Fasher in Darfur. The report, based on harrowing interviews with survivors and satellite imagery, details systematic attacks on civilians, including mass killings, torture, and sexual violence. It alleges that the RSF orchestrated a campaign of ethnic cleansing targeting non-Arab communities, forcing thousands to flee their homes. The UK government has responded by calling for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate. A Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK will push for UN Security Council action, stressing that there must be accountability for what they described as 'unconscionable atrocities'.
Sources close to the investigation confirm that the RSF, a paramilitary group formed from Janjaweed militias, has been operating with near-impunity in Darfur since civil war erupted in April 2023. The new report provides evidence of coordinated assaults on residential areas, with fighters using heavy artillery and striking markets and hospitals. One survivor recounted how RSF soldiers forced families from their homes before looting and burning the houses. 'We ran for our lives but they followed us, shooting at anyone who moved,' the witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Diplomatic cables obtained by this newsroom show that Western governments have been privately warning the RSF for months. But the violence has escalated. Satellite imagery from el-Fasher, dated late last week, reveals fresh blackened scars across the city, confirming testimony of systematic arson. Medical sources say the death toll is in the hundreds, but the true figure could be much higher. Bodies lie unburied in the streets as aid workers are unable to reach the area.
The UK’s call for ICC intervention marks a significant shift. Previously, London had been reluctant to push for a war crimes probe, fearing it could destabilise efforts to negotiate a ceasefire. But the scale of the horror in el-Fasher, which had been a relative safe haven, has changed calculations. A senior diplomat told us: 'There are limits to patience. The RSF has crossed every red line.'
Meanwhile, the RSF denies the allegations calling them propaganda. However, leaked internal documents suggest the group was ordered to retake el-Fasher at all costs. The UN estimates 1.5 million people are now trapped in Darfur with limited access to food, water, or medicine.
This is not just another conflict. This is a calculated campaign of destruction. The evidence is mounting and the world is watching. If the ICC acts, it could send a signal that no one is above the law. But history warns us that justice in Darfur has been long overdue.
