Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of committing serious war crimes in the Darfur town of el-Fasher, according to a new report by Amnesty International. The report, released on Tuesday, comes just hours after the RSF declared a three-month humanitarian truce in response to international efforts led by US President Donald Trump.

Atrocities in El-Fasher

Amnesty International documented testimonies from 28 survivors, detailing a range of atrocities allegedly committed by RSF fighters. These include:

• Summary executions of unarmed civilians
• Sexual violence against girls and women
• Indiscriminate killings during flight from conflict zones

“This persistent, widespread violence against civilians constitutes war crimes and may also constitute other crimes under international law,” said Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard.
“All those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.”

The report describes horrific accounts, including a woman and her 14-year-old daughter being raped as they fled el-Fasher, with the daughter later dying from illness in the refugee town of Tawila. Another survivor reported witnessing RSF forces shooting fleeing civilians, describing the killings as “like killing flies.”

Background of the Conflict

Sudan has been engulfed in chaos since April 2023, when a power struggle between the regular army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, commanded by Mohamed Daglo, escalated into open warfare.

At the end of October 2025, RSF forces captured el-Fasher, the last major city in western Darfur that remained outside their control. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher described the city as a “crime scene” and emphasized that those responsible for atrocities must face justice.

The conflict in Darfur is part of a broader struggle for control in Sudan, with both the army and RSF seeking military advantage ahead of stalled mediation efforts.

Failed Mediation and Humanitarian Efforts

Despite international attempts to broker peace, efforts have largely failed. On Sunday, General Burhan rejected a US-led truce proposal from the Quad group of mediators—which includes the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—calling it the “worst yet” and biased due to UAE involvement, which he claimed supported the RSF. The UAE has denied any role in the conflict and accused Burhan of “consistently obstructive behaviour.”

The RSF’s announcement of a three-month humanitarian truce was intended to ease civilian suffering, though Amnesty’s report underscores that atrocities occurred even as talks and temporary ceasefires were being discussed.

International Response

Human rights groups and international organizations continue to call for accountability and justice in Darfur. Amnesty International emphasized that persistent monitoring and reporting of civilian abuses are crucial, while UN agencies and humanitarian organizations have been pressed to provide relief amid ongoing conflict and displacement.

The situation in Sudan and Darfur remains volatile, with widespread human suffering, mass displacement, and continued reports of violations of international humanitarian law.