October 26, 2025 One of the darkest days in the continuous crisis in Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El-Fasher, the capital ...
October 26, 2025One of the darkest days in the continuous crisis in Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and the last significant military position of the Sudanese army in the area, following an 18-month intense siege. What happened next involved organized violence against the local population—widespread killings, sexual attacks, extortion, and enforced hunger.
This document presents confirmed accounts gathered by the Darfur Network for Human Rights (DNHR) from October to November 2025, highlighting the extent of crimes that occurred in El-Fasher and on migration paths.
Mass Exodus Under Fire
Over 62,000 peopleLeft El-Fasher between October 26 and 29, as reported by the International Organization for Migration. Numerous individuals had to travel 80 kilometers to Tawila amidst perilous circumstances.
On October 30, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting following reports that RSF militants had killedAlmost 500 individuals at the Saudi Maternity Hospital--the city's health facility that is only partially operational.
However, the violence extended beyond the city boundaries. Witnesses describe organized assaults while they were fleeing.
They separated us into teams
YousefA pseudonym recounted being halted by RSF fighters while traveling to Tawila:
They separated us into groups. I was part of a group consisting of approximately 59 individuals. I witnessed several people being killed before my eyes, and we were compelled to bury them. They requested 8 million Sudanese pounds for my release. I paid the amount, but numerous others continued to remain there.
Ibrahimleft Abushouk Camp on October 27:
Members of the RSF fired directly at civilians. Numerous individuals were killed immediately, while others fled in fear. At Kazan Golo, the RSF caught up with us once more, shooting and yelling, 'You dogs, slaves, cows of SAF! Where are you heading?' To stay alive, I had to lie on the ground and act as if I were dead. After the fighters left, I witnessed blood spreading across the area—many had lost their lives, including children.
Forced Ransom and Extortion
The RSF has consistently arrested fleeing civilians, demanding millions of Sudanese pounds for each individual. DNHR has confirmed video evidence showing RSF fighters making detained civilians film messages for their families.
In one verified video, Najmaeldeen Musa Ali from El-Fasher states:
The RSF detained me together with several other men. They are demanding payment. Those who paid were set free, but if you lack money, they kill you. Please, my message to my family: the RSF are requesting 15 million Sudanese pounds.
SalimA pseudonym was released after his family paid 8 million SDG. He observed around 400 civilians held at Quime, including women and children.
Starvation as a Weapon
The 18-month blockade placed El-Fasher's residents near the edge of hunger. The circumstances have deteriorated further following the takeover.
Fatimaa mother escaping with her children:
Children are suffering from starvation, and numerous individuals are ill. My husband was killed on September 19 when the mosque in Dar-Arkham came under fire. RSF took all our belongings during our journey. Now, we rely completely on others to survive, and food is still not enough.
Mariam confirmed the desperate conditions:
People are consuming animal feed, which costs 170,000 SDG. We attempted to leave El-Fasher as a group, but the RSF took all our money. Several people did not survive because of hunger or RSF gunfire, and many children are now seriously ill.
Sexual Violence
Women and girls encounter specific risks when displaced against their will. According to UNFPA, the trip from El-Fasher was described as "a dangerous experience characterized by bribery, sexual assault, and fatalities."
A 19-year-old survivor, known as "Salam," shared with UNFPA:
They inquired if I was a virgin. Upon confirming yes, they escorted me to their office and assaulted me before letting me proceed.
Overcrowded refugee camps in Tawila are short on proper shelter, privacy, and safety—increasing the chances of sexual abuse. Because of social stigma and fear, many cases probably go unreported.
Use of Child Soldiers
Confirmed video footage examined by DNHR indicates that children were utilized by RSF in military actions, including active participation in attacks on civilians. This represents serious breaches of international humanitarian law.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17DcajgEO6ACmPkzHrbtuQV-LHQEtTWd/view?usp=sharing
The Divide Between Words and Deeds
A commander of the RSF, Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, has openly promised to safeguard civilians. However, the recorded evidence presents a contrasting narrative: widespread killings, sexual abuse, blackmail, forced relocation, and the intentional attack on hospitals and civilian facilities.
What Happens Next?
The capture of El-Fasher marks a severe intensification in the Darfur conflict. The series of abuses—confirmed by accounts from survivors, authenticated videos, and reports from humanitarian organizations—indicates that these are not random events but part of a structured campaign of fear directed at civilians.
Urgent global measures must be taken to:
- Safeguard civilians still present in El-Fasher and at displacement camps
- Ensure unhindered humanitarian access
- Punish those responsible for verified crimes
- Stop El-Fasher from turning into another emblem of the global inability to prevent large-scale crimes
If there is no firm action, the capture of El-Fasher will not only be a key moment in the military conflict, but also a moral disaster—one more example of the global inability to safeguard civilians in Sudan.
This document relies on confirmed accounts gathered by the Darfur Network for Human Rights (DNHR) via remote and face-to-face discussions with victims, observers, and local authorities. Data was compared with findings from the UN, IOM, UNFPA, and other aid organizations.
Copyright 2025 Darfur Network for Human Rights. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (okay1).
Tagged: Sudan, Arms and Military Affairs, Legal and Judicial Affairs, East Africa, Conflict, Peace and Security
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