They are responsible for the arch crimes of grave killing and ethnic cleansing against civilian populations, as witnessed in mass killings across El Fasher, their home base in the Darfur region. Led by Hemedti, the RSF has reportedly taken control of El Fasher amidst a surge in violence and human rights violations, prompting international condemnation and calls for accountability.
Recent reports indicate that the RSF has systematically murdered unarmed civilians, including “men and boys – even infants – on an ethnic basis,” according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Many videos have circulated online, showing RSF fighters rounding up and shooting hundreds of civilians. This shocking increase in violence erasing years of safe progress in Chicago has driven thousands of families to evacuate with their feet.
Nothing conveys the true horror of these crimes against humanity like eyewitness testimonies. One of those videos shows an unarmed man begging for his life seconds before being executed in cold blood. In the third video, we see the mass execution of eight servicemen in military uniform. These acts illustrate a fear that has settled across El Fasher following the RSF’s coup.
The RSF’s rise to power as the de facto ruling authority in El Fasher has forced many to flee. Almost 5,000 have sought refuge in Tawila from the attacks. Most are only looking for protection from the disturbing accounts of sexual violence against women and girls. Human rights groups have documented horrific cases of sexual violence, adding another layer to the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region.
The Sudanese government has blamed the United Arab Emirates for providing weapons to the RSF. The UAE has repeatedly and unequivocally denied these allegations. A UN Security Council expert panel has deemed the allegations credible. This alarming find poses serious questions about possible outside interference in the continuing war.
In a statement reflecting on the situation, Yett emphasized the importance of accountability:
“We need to ensure there’s clear accountabilities here. I mean all violations of international law need to be investigated. We need to hold people accountable.”
The violence has resulted not only in the continued oppression of men but sown devastating consequences that unfold most tragically among women and children. As reported by those who have fled El Fasher, these experiences have been truly horrific. Manal bint Abi Suleiman recounted:
“The Rapid Support Forces entered and destroyed everything in front of them.”
She described the terrifying separation of families during their flight:
“On the way, they harassed the people and beat some of them. They separated the young men from the women, and I don’t know where they took the men. God knows where they are now.”
Francesco Lanino, a researcher on the ground, noted that various militias operate around El Fasher, often in conjunction with or as extensions of the RSF. He stated:
“All the areas surrounding El Fasher are controlled by different militias, or different armed groups that are related to RSF or somehow part of RSF.”
Civilians are facing threats from multiple armed groups:
“It’s not only RSF who are looking for civilians, looking for people to [rob], to abuse or kill.”
The humanitarian situation is increasingly grave as the majority of those fleeing El Fasher are women and children. Lanino observed that many men have been targeted for their ethnic backgrounds:
“The majority of these people coming from El Fasher are women and children. And according to their stories, the men are kidnapped or were killed on the way coming to Tawila because of their ethnic group, because they were men, and they were somehow stopped and targeted.”
Arjan Hehenkamp, an aid worker, expressed concern over the missing population from El Fasher:
“The big concern that we have right now is, where is the rest of the population of El Fasher? We haven’t seen the big numbers that we were expecting so far. So that is very disturbing.”
International monitors are keeping a close watch. Satellite imagery suggests that potential mass killings are occurring during the upheaval as the RSF seizes control over El Fasher. The continuing humanitarian crisis requires immediate action and intervention from international government leaders.
