UN Warns of RSF atrocities as Tens of Thousands of Civilians Remain Trapped
Sudan’s army has withdrawn from its last stronghold in Darfur, leaving the city of el-Fasher under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced on Monday. The move comes amid escalating fears for the safety of more than 260,000 civilians, half of them children, still trapped in the city.
The army’s retreat follows the RSF seizure of the main Sudanese army base in el-Fasher. Aid groups reported chaotic scenes, including killings, arrests, attacks on hospitals, and clashes between RSF fighters and departing troops. Al-Burhan said the withdrawal aimed to spare civilians from further violence, but vowed that the perpetrators would be held accountable.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the situation as a “terrible escalation” of the ongoing conflict, with civilians facing unbearable suffering. The UN Human Rights Office reported that RSF fighters committed atrocities in el-Fasher, including summary executions of civilians attempting to flee, with possible ethnic motivations.
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that the risk of large-scale violations and atrocities is growing daily. The Sudan Doctors Network called the RSF attack a “heinous massacre”, highlighting the destruction of hospitals and essential health infrastructure. The Darfur Network for Human Rights reported over 1,000 civilians detained, describing the RSF actions as systematic targeting and potential war crimes.
The RSF, which emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militia, has been implicated in past atrocities during the Darfur conflict. The ongoing war, which began in April 2023, has killed more than 40,000 people, displaced nearly 12 million, and created a humanitarian crisis, including famine in el-Fasher.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher stressed the urgent need for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access for the trapped population, warning that hundreds of thousands remain shelled, starving, and without medical care. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the conflict.
The fall of el-Fasher marks a dangerous turning point, raising fears of further division in Sudan and a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur.