The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan are facing grave accusations of committing war crimes in the Darfur town of el-Fasher, according to a scathing new report by human rights watchdog Amnesty International. This alarming exposé, released on Tuesday, starkly contrasts with the RSF's own declaration, made just hours earlier, of an immediate three-month humanitarian truce, purportedly in response to international mediation efforts spearheaded by then-US President Donald Trump.
Horrific Allegations Emerge from El-Fasher
Amnesty International's report meticulously compiles testimonies from 28 survivors, painting a grim picture of atrocities in el-Fasher. These accounts detail summary executions of unarmed men, along with the brutal rape of girls and women. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty's chief, unequivocally stated that "This persistent, widespread violence against civilians constitutes war crimes and may also constitute other crimes under international law." She emphasized the critical need for accountability for all perpetrators.
The conflict, which plunged Sudan into chaos in April 2023, pits the regular forces led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the RSF, commanded by his former ally and right-hand man, Mohamed Daglo. El-Fasher, a crucial city in the vast western Darfur region, fell to the RSF at the end of October, marking a significant territorial gain as it was the last major urban center outside their control.
Eyewitness Accounts of Terror
The report includes harrowing personal stories. One woman from el-Fasher recounted how she and her 14-year-old daughter were raped by RSF fighters while attempting to flee the city. Tragically, her daughter succumbed to illness and died in a clinic in the refugee town of Tawila. Another survivor, who escaped el-Fasher in late October, described witnessing the indiscriminate killing of civilians by RSF forces. "The RSF were killing people as if they were flies. It was a massacre. None of the people killed that I have seen were armed soldiers," he stated, highlighting the non-combatant status of the victims. Tom Fletcher, a United Nations aid chief, had previously labeled el-Fasher a "crime scene," insisting that those responsible must "face justice."
Mediation Efforts Falter Amidst Accusations
Despite these grim realities, efforts to broker peace have largely failed, with both sides seemingly intent on securing military advantages before engaging in meaningful talks. On Sunday, General Burhan outright rejected a US-backed truce proposal from the Quad group of mediators, labeling it "the worst yet" and unacceptable. The Quad, comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, faced scrutiny from Burhan, who accused the UAE of supporting the RSF, thereby compromising the neutrality of the proposals. The UAE has consistently denied any involvement in the Sudanese war, and on Monday, it retorted by accusing Burhan of "consistently obstructive behaviour."
The unfolding crisis in Darfur underscores the urgent need for international intervention and accountability, as civilians continue to bear the brunt of a brutal conflict marked by egregious human rights violations.