CAIRO: A senior Sudanese diplomat has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in North Darfur’s capital, el-Fasher, as horrific accounts emerge of mass killings, rape, and looting following the city’s fall last week.
Sudan’s ambassador to Egypt, Imadeldin Mustafa Adawi, made the remarks on Sunday, alleging that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been providing support to the RSF in the ongoing civil war — a charge the Gulf state has denied.
“The government of Sudan is calling on the international community to act immediately and effectively rather than just make statements of condemnation,” Adawi said at a press conference in Cairo, adding that the RSF’s actions “constitute genocide against the people of Darfur.”
His comments came after Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris told the Swiss newspaper Blick that RSF leaders must face justice in international courts. However, Idris rejected any foreign military intervention, calling it “illegal and counterproductive.”
The latest accusations come amid escalating violence following the RSF’s seizure of el-Fasher — the Sudanese army’s last stronghold in Darfur — after an 18-month siege that left the city devastated. Humanitarian agencies say thousands were killed and tens of thousands displaced, with survivors describing atrocities reminiscent of the early 2000s Darfur genocide.
Witnesses told local media that RSF fighters executed civilians in the streets, burned homes, and committed widespread sexual violence. “They killed everyone they found — men, women, and even children,” said a survivor who fled to a nearby village. “They took the young women away, and we don’t know where.”
The Sudanese government estimates that at least 2,000 civilians have been killed since the RSF took control of el-Fasher, though humanitarian organizations warn that the true toll could be far higher. Tens of thousands remain trapped without food, water, or medical assistance.
The United Nations and human rights groups have expressed alarm, with some drawing parallels to the 2003–2005 Darfur genocide, during which the Janjaweed militia — the precursor to the RSF — killed an estimated 300,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million. The International Criminal Court (ICC) still has outstanding warrants against several figures accused of orchestrating those crimes, including former President Omar al-Bashir.
Since fighting erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), more than 9 million people have been displaced — the world’s largest displacement crisis today. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, but the RSF has drawn particular scrutiny for targeting non-Arab communities in Darfur.
International efforts to mediate peace have so far failed, with the United Nations warning that Sudan is “on the brink of state collapse.” Despite mounting global concern, little concrete action has been taken to halt the bloodshed.
As el-Fasher lies in ruins, survivors and Sudanese officials are urging the world not to repeat the mistakes of the past. “Darfur is burning again,” Adawi warned. “And once more, the world is watching in silence.”
