A recent report by UN-backed human rights experts has revealed disturbing details of a brutal campaign carried out by Sudanese paramilitary forces in October in the western region of Darfur. The experts described the actions as having “hallmarks of genocide” against non-Arab communities near the city of El Fasher. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) engaged in mass killings and other atrocities targeting specific non-Arab groups such as the Zaghawa and Fur communities during an 18-month siege.
According to the report, several thousand civilians lost their lives during the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher, with only 40% of the city’s population managing to escape the onslaught. The fate of the remaining residents remains unknown. The conflict in Sudan erupted in mid-April 2023, resulting in over 40,000 casualties, although aid organizations believe the actual death toll could be much higher.
The RSF’s offensive in El Fasher, characterized by widespread atrocities including mass killings, sexual violence, and abductions for ransom, led to the death of more than 6,000 individuals within a two-day span. The report highlighted the deliberate targeting of non-Arab communities and the imposition of conditions aimed at the physical destruction of these groups, meeting at least three criteria for genocide under the international “Genocide Convention.”
The fact-finding team, led by Mohamed Chande Othman, emphasized that the RSF’s actions were not random acts of war but a systematic and organized operation displaying characteristics of genocide. The team documented instances of ethnically targeted killings, sexual violence, and statements by perpetrators expressing an intent to eliminate non-Arab communities.
The report called for accountability for the perpetrators and emphasized the urgent need to protect civilians as the conflict spreads to other regions in Sudan. The RSF, previously linked to the United Arab Emirates, has been accused of committing atrocities throughout the war, with allegations of genocide. The group’s origins trace back to the Janjaweed militias, known for their brutal campaign in Darfur in the early 2000s.
The report’s findings were deemed “truly horrific” by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who presented them to the UN Security Council. Cooper stressed the urgent need for international action to address the ongoing crisis in Sudan and prevent further atrocities.