Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are committing war crimes in the Darfur city of el-Fasher, according to a new report by Amnesty International, released just hours after the paramilitary group announced a three-month humanitarian truce.
The rights group said it gathered testimonies from 28 survivors, detailing horrific abuses—including summary executions of unarmed men, rape of women and girls, and indiscriminate violence against civilians.
“This persistent, widespread violence constitutes war crimes and may also amount to other crimes under international law,”
— Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary-General
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, escalated into nationwide fighting.
At the end of October, the RSF seized control of el-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur not under its authority. The UN’s humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher recently described the city as a “crime scene”, calling for perpetrators to be held accountable.
Survivors who fled the city recounted scenes of terror. One woman said her daughter became gravely ill during their escape to Tawila and died shortly after arriving at a clinic. Another survivor described RSF fighters shooting civilians attempting to flee, calling it a “massacre”.
Peace efforts have repeatedly stalled. On Sunday, Burhan rejected a new ceasefire plan from the Quad mediators—the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE—calling it “the worst yet.” Burhan accused the UAE of backing the RSF, a claim the Emiratis deny. On Monday, the UAE accused Burhan of engaging in “consistently obstructive behaviour.”
The RSF’s latest truce announcement comes amid mounting global pressure, but violence on the ground shows little sign of easing.