In a devastating escalation of Sudan's civil war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have carried out a systematic massacre in the North Darfur city of El Fasher, leaving a trail of destruction and hundreds of civilian casualties in their wake.
A City Under Siege
Eyewitness accounts describe how RSF fighters descended upon El Fasher in a coordinated assault, targeting residential areas with brutal efficiency. The attack, which began in the early hours, quickly turned into what survivors are calling a methodical campaign of terror against the civilian population.
"They weren't just fighting soldiers - they were hunting people in their homes," one survivor told The Guardian, his voice trembling with trauma. "The sounds of gunfire and screams lasted through the night."
Systematic Violence Unfolds
The RSF's rampage followed a familiar pattern seen in previous Darfur conflicts:
- House-to-house searches targeting specific ethnic communities
- Indiscriminate shooting of civilians, including women and children
- Widespread looting and property destruction
- Targeted attacks on humanitarian facilities
Local medical facilities, already stretched beyond capacity, reported being overwhelmed by casualties, with many victims suffering from gunshot wounds at close range.
International Community Sounds Alarm
Human rights organisations and UN observers have expressed grave concern about the escalating violence. "What we're witnessing in El Fasher bears the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing," noted one senior humanitarian official who requested anonymity due to security concerns.
The massacre represents one of the single deadliest incidents since the conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF began in April 2023, raising fears that the violence in Darfur is returning to the scale of atrocities witnessed two decades ago.
Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens
With communication lines severely disrupted and humanitarian access blocked, the full scale of the tragedy remains difficult to assess. However, preliminary reports suggest:
- Hundreds of civilians killed in the initial assault
- Critical shortages of medical supplies and food
- Mass displacement as survivors flee the city
- Complete collapse of local infrastructure
As the international community struggles to respond, the people of El Fasher face an uncertain future, caught between warring factions in a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
