Horrific scenes following the recent massacre in Sudan’s civil conflict reveal vast areas of sand drenched in blood and heaps of bodies. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, carried out a deadly attack on El Fasher in the Darfur region, displacing Sudan’s army from its final stronghold. Over 2,000 civilians were reported killed as per Yale University’s analysis, with a significant number of them being children, after the army withdrew from El Fasher, leaving a large population under paramilitary control.
Aerial images of Daraja Oula neighborhood in El Fasher depict objects resembling human bodies and reddish ground discoloration, indicating a grim aftermath. Satellite imagery shows elongated shapes near sand berms and vehicles, with newly visible reddish stains suggesting pools of blood, a stark contrast from previous images. Witnesses accounts reveal the blocking of side streets with vehicles post “door-to-door clearance operations,” where multiple piles of bodies were discovered around the city’s outskirts, allegedly shot while attempting to escape.
Yale experts highlighted El Fasher’s apparent systematic ethnic cleansing targeting non-Arab communities through displacement and summary executions. The RSF, aided by local militia, allegedly committed atrocities against innocent civilians, especially women, children, and the elderly. The Sudanese army’s Joint Forces confirmed the execution of over 2,000 civilians within 48 hours, prompting their withdrawal to protect civilians from further RSF violence.
Video footage circulating on social media exposed RSF fighters celebrating and engaging in brutal acts, including the shooting and beating of fleeing individuals. Reports indicate racial slurs and acts of violence against African tribes in Darfur, raising concerns of atrocities and summary executions by the RSF. Military officials admitted to the army’s retreat due to RSF’s indiscriminate killings and the hope to spare civilian lives.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed deep concern over the disturbing pattern of abuses in El Fasher, citing systematic killings, torture, and sexual violence. RSF fighters were documented looting hospitals, destroying essential infrastructure, and capturing civilians, leading to accusations of war crimes by human rights organizations. The situation escalated with the detainment of a local journalist and warnings of potential mass violations akin to past atrocities.
Sudanese medical professionals condemned the RSF’s actions, labeling El Fasher a ‘brutal killing field’ and calling for international recognition of the RSF as a terrorist group. The plea for intervention and accountability echoed the urgent need to address the escalating crisis in Sudan.
