UN Reports Mass Killings in El-Fasher
More than 6,000 people were killed within a span of three days when Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of the city of el-Fasher last year, according to testimonies from victims and witnesses cited in a United Nations report.
"It was like a scene out of a horror movie,"recalled one witness who observed bodies being thrown into the air as RSF fighters opened fire on approximately 1,000 individuals seeking refuge inside a university building in October.
The UN report presents evidence of mass killings, summary executions, torture, abductions, and sexual violence directed at civilians. These acts are characterized as war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity.
The RSF has not issued a statement regarding this latest report but has previously denied similar accusations.
The findings align with documented abuses from earlier RSF military operations.
Context of the Conflict
Sudan remains embroiled in an almost three-year-long power struggle between the regular army and the RSF paramilitary forces. This ongoing civil war has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and displaced over 13 million people. Sexual violence against men, women, and children is reportedly being utilized as a weapon of war.
Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces have faced allegations of committing atrocities.
The United States and Human Rights Watch have accused the RSF and its allies of perpetrating genocide in the western Darfur region against the Massalit people and other non-Arab communities. However, recent UN reports have refrained from explicitly labeling the situation as genocide.
Siege and Assault on El-Fasher
El-Fasher, a strategic city in Darfur, endured an 18-month siege and has been the site of some of the most distressing accounts in the conflict.
More than 140 victims and witnesses provided testimony in Sudan's Northern state and eastern Chad in late 2025, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
During the initial days of the RSF assault on el-Fasher, the UN reports that
"at least 4,400 people were killed"within the city itself, with
"over 1,600 others along exit routes as they fled."
The report further states,
"The actual scale of the death toll during the week-long offensive is undoubtedly significantly higher."
International Response and Calls for Action
Volker Türk, the UN Human Rights Chief, has reiterated calls for all parties in Sudan to cease what he described as grave violations committed by forces under their command.
International pressure has been mounting on the supporters of the conflict to disengage.
The United Arab Emirates has denied widespread allegations that it is the primary arms supplier to RSF fighters.
Last week, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on six individuals identified as key contributors to Sudan's war, including senior commanders from both the army and RSF, as well as three foreign nationals accused of recruiting Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF.
British lawmakers recently voiced concerns in parliament following UN claims that weapons legally sold by the UK to the UAE were subsequently re-sold by the UAE to the RSF.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper responded,
"The UK has extremely strong controls on arms exports, including to prevent any diversion. We will continue to take that immensely seriously."
Political Developments
A coalition linked to the RSF, known as the Sudan Founding Alliance, has announced plans to establish a rival Sudanese government based in the western part of the country.
The African Union has rejected these plans, warning that such a move could jeopardize any prospects for national unity.
Additional BBC Coverage on Sudan
To support children in Sudan and other Arabic-speaking countries who face barriers to education, the BBC World Service has launched a new season of the Arabic edition of its award-winning educational programme Dars (Lesson).
The first episode aired on Saturday, 24 January, on Arabic TV. New episodes are broadcast weekly on Saturdays at 09:30 GMT (11:30 EET), with repeats on Sundays at 05:30 GMT (07:30 EET) and throughout the week.
The programme is also accessible on digital platforms, including Arabic YouTube.
For more news from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com.
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