ALBAWABA- The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of committing widespread atrocities in Sudan’s besieged city of El Fasher since seizing it on Sunday, turning the last Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) stronghold in Darfur into a city of death and destruction.
Eyewitnesses and human rights monitors report mass executions, ethnic cleansing, and widespread sexual violence, with over 2,000 civilians, mostly from the non-Arab Fur, Zaghawa, and Masalit communities, killed in the first days of the takeover.
Thousands more remain trapped without food, water, or medicine as RSF fighters torch homes, loot neighborhoods, and block aid routes.
The United Nations Human Rights Office condemned what it called “appalling atrocities,” urging an immediate halt to the violence and safe passage for civilians. Amnesty International warned of a looming “bloodbath” in the city of 250,000 people, where humanitarian access has collapsed amid an ongoing siege.
Global condemnation followed swiftly: UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as “terrifying,” while Ireland’s Tánaiste Simon Harris and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry both demanded an end to the killings.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry denounced the “terrorist crimes,” echoing similar calls from the African Union and G7 nations as the war nears its second year, having already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 12 million people.
Adding to the crisis are allegations of foreign involvement. A Guardian investigation revealed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) supplied UK-made weapons and Chinese drones to the RSF, violating UN arms embargoes.
Amnesty International confirmed the use of “Long Wang 2” strategic drones traced to UAE intermediaries. Analysts say Abu Dhabi’s backing is tied to competition for Sudan’s gold and agricultural resources, though the UAE denies any role. In January 2025, Washington sanctioned RSF financiers with Emirati links, deepening scrutiny over UAE influence in the conflict.
With RSF dominance spreading across Darfur, experts warn of Sudan’s potential fragmentation, SAF holding the north and east, while RSF entrenches itself in the west’s mineral-rich territories.
