El Fasher: Survivors who fled El Fasher in Sudan's North Darfur State have recounted harrowing experiences of violence perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), detailing deliberate killings and sexual assaults.
According to African Press Organization, Amnesty International has gathered testimonies from 28 survivors who described witnessing unarmed men being executed and women and girls subjected to sexual violence by RSF fighters during the capture of the city.
These testimonies are among the first to emerge from eyewitnesses who escaped El Fasher, with Amnesty International conducting interviews with survivors who reached safety in neighboring towns. The accounts reveal a pattern of violence, including hostages taken for ransom and hundreds of bodies left in the streets. The RSF fighters reportedly attacked the city on 26 October, leading to widespread casualties and suffering.
The international community is being urged not to overlook these brutal acts. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International's Secretary General, emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the violence committed by RSF fighters constitutes war crimes and potentially other violations under international law. The call for accountability extends to external actors like the United Arab Emirates, whose support for the RSF is seen as exacerbating the violence.
The UN Security Council is being urged to extend its mandate to investigate human rights abuses across Sudan, not just in Darfur. Amnesty International also calls for an end to the sale of arms to all parties involved in the conflict, highlighting the UAE's role in supplying weapons to the RSF despite an arms embargo on Darfur.
Survivors' stories paint a grim picture of life in El Fasher during the RSF's attack. Ahmed, a 21-year-old survivor, described his escape with his family, which ended in tragedy when his wife was killed and he became separated from his children. After being ambushed, he witnessed executions but was inexplicably spared along with two young girls and an older woman, who later died from dehydration.
Other survivors recounted similar experiences of being captured, executed, or forced to flee under life-threatening conditions. Badr, 26, described being kidnapped and witnessing an RSF soldier filming an execution for ransom purposes. Sexual violence was also widespread, with survivors like Ibtisam and Khaltoum recounting horrific assaults against themselves and others.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, which began in April 2023, has created a humanitarian crisis, displacing millions and resulting in countless deaths. Amnesty International's findings highlight a dire need for international intervention and accountability to prevent further atrocities and support those affected by the conflict.