The humanitarian crisis in Sudan takes a disturbing turn as the United Nations reports extensive human rights violations by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their year-long siege of El-Fasher, Darfur.
According to the UN Fact-Finding Mission's recent report, the RSF stands accused of a variety of crimes against humanity, including:
- murder
- torture
- enslavement
- rape and sexual slavery
- forced displacement
- persecution based on ethnicity, gender and political affiliation.
The investigation suggests these acts were not isolated incidents but rather part of a larger strategy aimed at targeting civilians, executed alongside the regular army.
Chairman of the UN Fact-Finding Mission, Mohamed Chande Othman, emphasized the calculated nature of these attacks, equating them to war crimes. He noted, These are not accidental tragedies but deliberate strategies amounting to war crimes.
The situation for residents within El-Fasher and its vicinity has deteriorated alarmingly. In April, the RSF's assault forced many from the Zamzam camp, pushing them into further homelessness amid declared famine conditions.
Recent Yale University research corroborates the findings, showing evidence of the RSF using starvation as an instrument of warfare.
In the current conflict, which began in April 2023, the RSF has intensified their assault, effectively encircling El-Fasher, the last significant stronghold of Sudanese armed forces in Darfur.
The United States has accused the RSF of committing genocidal acts against non-Arab populations within Darfur, while also placing sanctions on military chief Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan for his role in civilian deaths.
The UN's report, titled A War of Atrocities, calls for the international community to enforce an arms embargo and implement judicial proceedings to assure accountability for those responsible.
Othman concluded, stressing the plight of civilians: Our findings leave no room for doubt: civilians are paying the highest price in this war. Over 13 million individuals have been forcibly displaced, with tens of thousands killed since fighting escalated.
