Escalation of Violence in El Fasher
Horrific reports have emerged from the North Darfur capital of El Fasher, which has been captured and occupied by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These reports allege that ‘Janjaweed militiamen’ have carried out massacres of wounded and sick patients at the Saudi Hospital, as well as civilians at the university and the Interior Ministry. According to United Nations estimates, at least 26,000 people have fled the city in terror, while thousands of civilians remain trapped within its borders, with little choice but to endure the ongoing violence.
The situation has prompted a wave of international condemnation, with numerous organizations and governments expressing concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis. In a statement released yesterday evening, the El Fasher Resistance Committees Coordination claimed that all the wounded and injured inside the Saudi Hospital, first-class wards, the university, and the Interior Ministry were “collectively eliminated by ‘the Janjaweed militia’ in horrible ways.”
International Response and Humanitarian Crisis
UNHCR’s sub-director in Port Sudan, Jacqueline Wilma Barlilet, addressed a press conference in Geneva, highlighting the dire conditions faced by those fleeing El Fasher. She noted that individuals attempting to reach safety are encountering armed checkpoints where they are subjected to “extortion, arbitrary arrests, detention, looting, harassment, and gross human rights violations.” During her video briefing to journalists, she confirmed reports of widespread sexual assaults against women and girls by armed groups during attacks and while fleeing, as well as reports of horrific executions in El Fasher.
Barlilet emphasized that civilians should never be targeted and that their safe passage must be ensured. She called for safe, immediate, and unhindered corridors for humanitarian actors to reach those in need, stressing that “compliance with international humanitarian law is a duty, not an option.” However, significant communication disruptions have made it difficult to obtain the latest information from civilians still in El Fasher, and the current insecurity continues to impede access, “preventing life-saving aid from reaching those trapped in the city without food, water and medical care,” she said.
Strained Resources and Ongoing Challenges
UNHCR and its partners have reported that families have arrived in Tawila from El Fasher, suffering from malnutrition, illness, and trauma from their perilous journey, especially children. The organization is providing relief assistance and basic services to displaced families, including shelter, necessities, and cash assistance, with more aid waiting to secure safe passageways, she said.
The humanitarian community in Sudan has condemned in the strongest terms “the ongoing attacks by the RSF on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian workers in and around El Fasher.” In a separate statement, the Sudan Humanitarian Operational Team (SOTAG) said it was “shocked” by credible reports of widespread abuses, adding that local responders were at grave risk, “with reports of some being arrested or killed.”
Global Condemnation and Calls for Action
In New York, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated that the organization and its partners remain committed to expanding support across Darfur “and re-establishing their presence on the ground [in El Fasher], where possible.” However, he noted that access to the city remains restricted, and that “humanitarian capacity is constantly diminishing as needs increase.”
The UN spokesperson urged the international community to take urgent action to protect civilians, ensure the safe passage of humanitarian workers in Sudan, humanitarian access to people trapped in El Fasher, and increase funding to support humanitarian operations in the city and elsewhere in the country. “We reaffirm the need to protect civilians wherever they are, whether they decide to seek safety or are forced to stay,” he said.
European and Arab Responses
The European Union described the capture of El Fasher as a serious turning point in the war in Sudan, warning that it threatens to exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation. The EU highlighted the targeting of civilians on ethnic grounds, calling the actions of the RSF “brutal.”
The EU also called for an immediate truce, urging the warring parties to de-escalate and abide by UN Security Council Resolution 2736, respect international humanitarian law, and fulfill their obligations under the Jeddah Declaration. It expressed readiness to support negotiations aimed at a permanent ceasefire and to engage with the parties to the conflict and international partners to urge them to return to the negotiating table.
Regional and International Reactions
The Arab League condemned the brutal crimes against civilians in El Fasher and expressed concern over the deterioration of the humanitarian situation following the military escalation. It stressed that what is happening in El Fasher represents a blatant challenge to international efforts aimed at establishing peace in Sudan, reiterating its call for an immediate cessation of all acts of violence, allowing unhindered humanitarian access, and holding accountable those responsible for grave violations against the civilian population.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Qatar, Kuwait, and the Muslim World League, also condemned the violations that occurred during the RSF attacks on El Fasher, calling for a return to dialogue to reach a ceasefire and emphasizing the importance of Sudan’s unity, security, and stability.
Accountability and Continued Conflict
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the RSF would be held accountable for the actions of its members in El Fasher, stressing the devastating repercussions on civilians. She called for civilians to be able to leave the city safely, with unhindered access to life-saving assistance.
As reported by Radio Dabanga, the Head of the Sovereignty Council and Commander-in-Chief of the SAF, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, confirmed the fall of El Fasher to the RSF, amid reports of mass killings, displacement, and widespread abuses. The RSF declared full control of the city, stating that its fighters were conducting “combing operations” to clear remaining resistance. The group pledged to open safe corridors for civilians wishing to leave.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 26,000 people fled El Fasher on Sunday and Monday, following the RSF takeover. Local resistance committees said fighting continues in the city’s west, where residents have endured days without food or medical care.
The North Darfur Emergency Rooms Council described the situation as “genocide,” citing the loss of contact with dozens of volunteers and aid workers.
