In brief
This article uncovers the horrifying details surrounding a massacre in El-Fasher, Sudan, where fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly celebrated their actions that claimed over 2,000 lives. With graphic testimonies and videos illustrating the horrors of the event, this report highlights the urgent need for international attention and accountability regarding the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of executions.
Fighters laugh as they ride on the back of a pick-up truck, speeding past a row of nine dead bodies and driving towards the setting Sudanese sun. Look at all this work. Look at this genocide, one cheers.
The men are celebrating a massacre that humanitarian officials fear killed more than 2,000 people in the Sudanese city of el-Fasher last month. On Monday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) said it was investigating whether the paramilitary may have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
El-Fasher was a key target for the paramilitary RSF, the last stronghold in Darfur held by the Sudanese military, with whom the RSF has waged a devastating war since their ruling coalition collapsed in 2023. More than 150,000 people are estimated to have been killed by the fighting over the past two years, with both sides accused of committing atrocities.
Having held the city under siege for almost two years, the RSF consolidated its position while blocking access to civilians. Satellite images show that troops constructed a massive berm around el-Fasher, sealing off routes and blocking aid.
The siege intensified, resulting in violent attacks with many casualties, including 78 people killed during an attack on a mosque in late September.
Graphic videos showed unarmed people being gunned down, with alarming images of soldiers laughing at their actions. The RSF, emerging from the Janjaweed militia, has a notorious history of atrocities against non-Arab groups across Sudan.
In the immediate aftermath of the RSF seizing el-Fasher, videos surfaced online, showing the brutal executions of civilians and mass killings, leading to widespread outrage. Commanders within the RSF sought damage control after admitting to violations but continued to portray a narrative of humanitarian acts in social media campaigns.
Despite these efforts, the violent actions of the RSF have drawn global condemnation, highlighting the urgent need for international interventions and accountability for the atrocities occurring in Sudan.
