What's happened
Following the fall of El Fasher to the UAE-backed militia, reports detail mass killings, sexual violence, and extortion. Survivors describe systematic executions and displacement, with thousands trapped amid ongoing violence and atrocities since late October 2025.
What's behind the headline?
The fall of El Fasher marks a significant escalation in Darfur's ongoing conflict, with credible evidence of mass atrocities. Satellite imagery and survivor testimonies reveal a pattern of mass killings, including children and elderly civilians, often linked to ransom demands. The RSF's tactics, rooted in their Janjaweed origins, suggest a deliberate campaign of ethnic targeting and terror. The international community’s response remains limited, and the violence is likely to persist, further destabilizing the region. The ongoing atrocities threaten to deepen humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands still trapped and reports of mass graves and disappearances. This situation underscores the urgent need for increased international intervention and accountability measures to prevent further atrocities and protect civilians.
What the papers say
The New Arab provides detailed survivor testimonies and satellite imagery analysis, highlighting ongoing mass killings and atrocities. The South China Morning Post reports on the detention and abuse of civilians by RSF fighters, emphasizing the escalation of violence and displacement. Both sources underscore the severity of the crisis, with UN officials warning of continued impunity and ongoing violence, while satellite data confirms large-scale human rights violations. The contrasting perspectives focus on the human toll and the regional security implications, illustrating the complexity and urgency of the situation in Darfur.
How we got here
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after an 18-month siege. The conflict, rooted in the long-standing Darfur crisis and the recent escalation between RSF and Sudanese army, has led to widespread atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement. Reports of systematic violence have emerged as the city’s social fabric is devastated.
Go deeper
- What is the role of international organizations in Darfur now?
- Are there any efforts to evacuate civilians?
- What might happen next in the conflict?
More on these topics
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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe