Horrific Violations: Arab Nations Condemn RSF Atrocities in Sudan’s El-Fasher
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, and Jordan have strongly condemned the mass killings allegedly carried out by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the recently captured city of El-Fasher, amid mounting evidence of widespread atrocities.
The condemnations follow a report by researchers at Yale University, which revealed satellite imagery showing clusters of bodies and large patches of red discoloration consistent with scenes of mass killings. The images were taken after RSF forces took control of El-Fasher, the Sudanese army’s last major stronghold in Darfur.
According to Sudanese officials, at least 2,000 people have been killed since the RSF entered the city, while aid agencies report credible evidence of summary executions, sexual violence, and house-to-house raids targeting civilians.
El-Fasher’s fall has effectively given the RSF control over most of Darfur and sparked fears of a potential breakup of Sudan, more than a decade after the creation of South Sudan.
Regional Outrage and Calls for Action
Saudi Arabia expressed “deep concern and condemnation of the grave human rights violations,” urging the RSF to fulfill its duty to protect civilians. Egypt called for an “immediate humanitarian truce” and pledged continued support to help Sudan overcome its crisis.
Turkiye condemned the “atrocities committed against civilians” and urged an immediate cessation of hostilities, safe passage for civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access. Qatar described the events in El-Fasher as “horrific violations” and called for renewed dialogue to end the conflict.
Jordan also joined in denouncing the violence, calling for restraint and a ceasefire to safeguard civilian lives. Egypt, Turkiye, and Qatar reaffirmed their support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, rejecting any attempt to divide the country.
Unprecedented Violence
The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab said the RSF appeared to be conducting “alleged mass killings” after seizing El-Fasher. Satellite imagery from Airbus revealed gun-mounted trucks in formation across the city, and numerous objects “consistent with human bodies” lying near RSF vehicles.
Nathaniel Raymond, the lab’s executive director, described the violence as “unprecedented,” noting that many of the bodies appeared in areas where they had not been seen 48 hours earlier. “Those objects now litter the city,” he said, adding that warnings of such a massacre had been raised for months.
The report concluded that the RSF’s actions “may be consistent with war crimes and crimes against humanity” and could potentially “rise to the level of genocide.”
International Concern Grows
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking from Malaysia, said the fall of El-Fasher marked a “terrible escalation” in Sudan’s war and called for an end to foreign military support for both the RSF and the Sudanese army. He warned that “external interference” was deepening the conflict and undermining hopes for peace.
The RSF, which emerged from the notorious Janjaweed militia responsible for atrocities during the 2000s Darfur conflict, has not responded to the latest allegations. The United States has previously accused the group and its allies of committing genocide in the ongoing war.
Yale’s report concluded with a stark warning: “The world must act immediately to put maximum pressure on the RSF and its backers, specifically the UAE, to end the killing now.
