Key Highlights
- The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out a massacre in el-Fasher, killing more than 2,000 people.
- The International Criminal Court is investigating whether the RSF committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- El-Fasher was a key target for the paramilitary RSF during their siege of the city.
- RSF fighters were seen laughing as they rode past dead bodies, celebrating the massacre.
The Bloody Siege of El-Fasher: A Massacre by the Rapid Support Forces
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan, has been implicated in a brutal massacre that left more than 2,000 people dead in el-Fasher. The International Criminal Court is now investigating whether these forces committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.
A City Under Siege
El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, was a stronghold for the Sudanese military until it fell to the RSF on October 26, 2023. The city had been under siege by the RSF for almost two years, from August 2021, as they sought to isolate and eventually conquer the last remaining resistance in Darfur.
The RSF constructed a massive berm around the perimeter of el-Fasher, sealing off access routes and blocking aid. Satellite images show that troops started building this barrier early in their siege, completely surrounding the city by early October 2023.
Atrocities Unveiled
The fall of el-Fasher was marked by a series of atrocities committed by the RSF. One of the most graphic videos to emerge showed the aftermath of a massacre at a university building, where dozens of dead bodies were scattered across the floor. An elderly man sat alone amongst the bodies and turned as a fighter armed with a rifle walked down the stairs towards him.
The gunman fired a single shot, killing the man instantly. Fellow soldiers were unfazed by the act and immediately noticed another man’s leg twitching in the tangle of bodies. “Why is this one still alive?” cried one fighter. “Shoot him.”
Executions and Celebrations
In the days following the fall of el-Fasher, RSF fighters were captured on video laughing as they rode past dead bodies. One group even celebrated the massacre by stating that it was a “genocide.” The RSF has long been accused of committing atrocities against non-Arab groups across Sudan.
One eyewitness described seeing “many of our relatives being massacred—gathered in one place and all killed.” Another witnessed a woman shot in the chest, her body thrown aside after the killers took everything she owned.
RSF’s Response
The RSF sought to reframe the narrative by sharing videos showing their fighters handing out aid to civilians. However, Yale analysts pointed out that satellite images showed “clean-up” of alleged mass atrocities, including removing objects consistent with bodies and identifying graves near hospitals.
Despite these efforts, the RSF’s actions in el-Fasher have sparked global outrage. The International Criminal Court is investigating the allegations, which could lead to serious consequences for those responsible.
Conclusion
The massacre in el-Fasher is a stark reminder of the brutality and impunity with which some paramilitary groups operate in Sudan. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen what measures will be taken against those who committed these atrocities. The world watches closely as justice may finally be brought to bear on the perpetrators.
