Amnesty reports RSF crimes against humanity in Darfur city el-Fasher

What happened

BBC Africa Sudan reports on an Amnesty International investigation accusing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and sexual violence, during an 18-month siege and takeover of el-Fasher in Darfur last year. Amnesty’s report is based on over 200 survivor accounts, satellite imagery, and video analysis, although the RSF denies these claims.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The siege of el-Fasher represented one of the conflict’s bloodiest episodes, with the UN reporting more than 6,000 deaths in just three days during the assault and characterizing the violence as bearing the hallmarks of genocide. Amnesty also highlights deliberate targeting of children and ethnic groups, noting RSF fighters used ethnic slurs against local non-Arab communities, particularly members of the Zaghawa ethnic group who defended the city.

The ongoing war between Sudan’s regular army and the RSF has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced more than 14 million people. Widespread sexual violence and forced recruitment of children are reported by the UN as tactics used in this conflict. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, though these allegations remain contested and unconfirmed independently.

Known from the source

• Amnesty International has published a report alleging RSF committed crimes against humanity during the 18-month siege of el-Fasher in Darfur.
• The UN reported over 6,000 people were killed in el-Fasher during a three-day period last year.
• The UN described the violence during the el-Fasher assault as bearing the hallmarks of genocide.
• Amnesty documented over 200 survivor accounts and reviewed 89 open-source videos and satellite imagery.
• Both RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces are engaged in a civil war causing widespread displacement and casualties.

What remains unclear

Amnesty calls for urgent ceasefire and international intervention to protect civilians, naming RSF commanders allegedly responsible for violations. The RSF leadership has acknowledged some violations and claims to be investigating but disputes the scale of the reported abuses. The situation continues to fuel the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with millions threatened by hunger and displacement.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Exact death toll numbers during the siege and assaults on el-Fasher from other independent sources. Verification of specific accounts of ethnic targeting and sexual violence reported by Amnesty from additional corroborating sources. Statements or official responses from Sudanese Armed Forces or RSF regarding the new Amnesty report.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: BBC Africa Sudan. Open the source.