The civil war in Sudan has taken a very serious turn. After the important city of El Fasher in West Darfur fell into the hands of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), reports have emerged of large-scale civilian killings. According to reports from the United Nations and local organizations, the RSF forces burned homes, killed civilians, and forced thousands to flee. The city had been under siege for the past one and a half years, and after the city fell, RSF soldiers launched attacks on civilians.
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee stated, “There is no safe passage available for civilians in El Fasher and surrounding areas.” She said, “There are widespread massacres, forced killings, and atrocities against women in this region.” According to the Sudan Doctors Network, approximately 1,500 civilians have died in these attacks so far. Additionally, more than 15,000 people have left the city and taken refuge in the Tawila area.
Human rights organizations have reported that RSF soldiers entered homes and dragged civilians out to kill them. Some videos show scenes of unarmed men being shot. The United Nations has strongly condemned this incident, stating that the situation in Sudan is “extremely dangerous.” The international community has called for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians. For the past three years, a civil war has been ongoing in Sudan between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Both sides have been accused of war crimes, and the massacre in El Fasher has once again plunged the country into a severe humanitarian crisis.