Amnesty International has accused Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing crimes against humanity and acts of ethnic cleansing in the city of El Fasher, according to a report released on Wednesday. The rights group documented a pattern of systematic attacks against civilians, including killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement, targeting non-Arab communities in the Darfur region.
Systematic Attacks on Civilians
The report details how RSF fighters and allied militias carried out coordinated assaults on residential areas in El Fasher between April and June 2023. Amnesty documented at least 245 deaths, with many victims shot or hacked to death. The group also recorded 137 cases of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, primarily against women and girls from the Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa ethnic groups.
According to the report, the RSF deliberately targeted hospitals, schools, and markets, destroying infrastructure and looting supplies. One survivor told Amnesty: “They came at dawn, shooting everyone in sight. They burned our homes and told us to leave or die. We ran with nothing.”
Ethnic Cleansing Allegations
Amnesty’s findings indicate that the attacks were ethnically motivated, constituting ethnic cleansing. The RSF reportedly used hate speech and incitement against non-Arab communities, referring to them as “slaves” and “enemies.” The group forced thousands to flee to displacement camps, where conditions are dire due to lack of food, water, and medical care.
“The evidence points to a deliberate strategy by the RSF to purge non-Arab populations from El Fasher,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General. “These acts amount to crimes against humanity and must be investigated by the International Criminal Court.”
International Response
The United Nations has condemned the violence, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calling for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access. The African Union has also urged restraint, but the RSF has denied the allegations, claiming it is fighting against rebel groups.
Amnesty is calling on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Sudan to the International Criminal Court and to impose targeted sanctions on RSF leaders. The group also urges member states to halt arms sales to both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, which have also been accused of abuses.
Broader Conflict
The violence in El Fasher is part of a larger conflict that erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese military. The war has killed over 10,000 people and displaced more than 6 million, according to UN figures. The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been accused of widespread atrocities across Darfur and other regions.
Amnesty’s report underscores the urgent need for international action to protect civilians and bring perpetrators to justice. Without accountability, the cycle of violence and impunity in Sudan is likely to continue.
