By: The Trek News Desk
Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has accused Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out grave human rights abuses and war crimes in the conflict-hit city of El-Fasher in Darfur.
The findings surfaced just as the RSF announced a three-month humanitarian truce following mounting international pressure.
Report Released Hours After Truce Declaration
Amnesty published its latest report on Tuesday, shortly after the RSF, citing mediation efforts led by former U.S. President Donald Trump, declared an immediate ceasefire.
Sudan has been mired in violence and political collapse since April 2023, when a power struggle between the national army and the RSF escalated into full-scale warfare.
Survivor Testimonies Reveal Killings, Rape and Widespread Brutality
According to Amnesty, testimonies from 28 survivors reveal a pattern of brutal crimes in El-Fasher. These include:
- Summary execution of unarmed men
- Rape and sexual violence against girls and women
- Indiscriminate attacks on civilians
Amnesty’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said, “Persistent and widespread violence against civilians amounts to war crimes and may constitute other violations under international law. Accountability is non-negotiable.”
Darfur Conflict Pits the Army Against RSF
The Darfur war has unfolded between Sudan’s armed forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF commanded by his former ally-turned-rival, Mohamed Dagalo.
By late October, RSF fighters had captured El-Fasher, the final major city in Darfur that had until then remained outside their control.
UN Warns: El-Fasher Has Become a ‘Crime Scene’
Last week, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described El-Fasher as a “crime scene,” emphasising that those responsible for atrocities must be brought to justice.
Harrowing Accounts from Civilians
Amnesty’s report shares several distressing testimonies. One woman recounted that RSF fighters raped her and her 14-year-old daughter while they attempted to escape the city. Upon reaching the Tawila refugee camp, her daughter fell severely ill and died at a clinic there.
Another survivor described witnessing RSF gunmen shooting civilians who were fleeing El-Fasher in late October.
“The RSF were killing people like they were nothing. It was a massacre. None of those killed were armed soldiers,” he said.
Mediation Efforts Stalled; Tensions Remain High
Attempts to broker peace have repeatedly collapsed, as both sides continue fighting to strengthen their position before any negotiations resume.
On Sunday, General Burhan rejected a ceasefire plan put forward by the Quad group, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE, calling it “the worst proposal yet.”
He argued that the UAE’s involvement compromised neutrality, accusing it of supporting the RSF.
The UAE has denied the allegation, saying Burhan has been engaging in “consistently obstructive behaviour.”
Source: News Agencies
