In brief
In light of allegations regarding mass killings in el-Fasher following the RSF's capture of the city, its leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has pledged to investigate these violations. This promise comes amidst increasing international scrutiny and evidence of atrocities committed in the region. Despite Dagalo's assurances, many remain skeptical given past unfulfilled commitments to accountability. The ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to inflict suffering on civilian populations, with urgent calls for humanitarian intervention and justice.
The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has declared an investigation into what he called violations committed by his soldiers during the capture of el-Fasher.
The announcement by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, came after escalating reports of civilian killings following the RSF takeover of the city in the Darfur region on Sunday.
He spoke after international outrage about reports of mass killings in el-Fasher, apparently documented by his paramilitary fighters on social media.
The RSF has since released footage which they say shows the arrest of a fighter accused of carrying out executions in el-Fasher.
Footage previously verified by BBC Verify showed the man, known online as Abu Lulu, shooting unarmed individuals outside el-Fasher.
However, UN officials have expressed disbelief over RSF's pledge to protect civilians, warning of what they termed an 'appalling situation' in the area.
The UN Security Council has condemned the violence and reiterated its call for ensuring humanitarian access to those in need, while observers recall that similar promises from the RSF have gone unfulfilled in the past.
As calls for accountability intensify, the situation in Sudan underscores the dire humanitarian crisis faced by its citizens, compounded by the conflict's ongoing toll on lives.
