UN Mission Concludes Mass Atrocities in El-Fasher Bear Hallmarks of Genocide
Geneva – A comprehensive 19-page report released by an independent United Nations fact-finding mission has determined that mass atrocities perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Fasher, Sudan, meet the fundamental criteria for genocide. The findings, presented on Tuesday, stem from the mission’s investigation into the events surrounding the fall of the city in late 2025.
Established by the Human Rights Council, the mission meticulously documented a coordinated campaign by the RSF and its allied militias, which investigators concluded was intentionally aimed at destroying the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic communities, either in whole or in part. This declaration signifies a grave escalation in the ongoing conflict and underscores the urgent need for international intervention.
The investigators identified three core material crimes that constitute genocide:
- Killing members of the protected groups: The report details numerous instances of mass killings targeting individuals based on their ethnicity.
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm: Widespread and systematic sexual violence, along with extreme psychological trauma inflicted upon victims and their families, falls under this category.
- Deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction: The prolonged siege and blockade of El-Fasher, which deprived civilians of essential resources, was deemed a deliberate strategy to achieve this end.
These legal conclusions are underpinned by what the mission characterized as a “cumulative factual matrix.” This matrix is a chilling compilation of evidence encompassing mass killings, extensive reports of rape, and the pervasive use of exterminatory rhetoric observed during and in the aftermath of the city’s capture.
The report paints a harrowing picture of atrocities marked by deliberate ethnic and gender-based targeting against the Zaghawa and Fur populations. The systematic nature of these crimes suggests a premeditated plan orchestrated by the RSF leadership.
A Siege and Three Days of Horror
The fall of El-Fasher on October 26, 2025, was the culmination of an arduous 18-month siege. According to the report, the RSF began its offensive in mid-2024, strategically encircling the city. This blockade had a devastating impact, systematically cutting off vital supplies of food, water, and medical aid, effectively “squeezing the life out of El-Fasher.”
On the day of the final takeover, the RSF deployed significant military assets and employed advanced jamming technology. This move was designed to cripple the defenders’ command and control structures, paving the way for a brutal assault. The subsequent “three days of horror” witnessed point-blank executions carried out in civilian homes and on the streets, demonstrating a complete disregard for human life.
Targeted Massacres and Systematic Sexual Violence
The UN mission’s investigation uncovered shocking details of massacres perpetrated at key civilian locations:
- El-Fasher University: This educational institution, which likely served as a refuge for many, became the site of a horrific massacre.
- El-Saudi Hospital: Healthcare facilities, meant to be sanctuaries, were also targeted, with patients, medical staff, and displaced individuals among the victims. Hundreds were reportedly killed in these locations.
Beyond the direct killings, the report highlights the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of terror. Women and girls, some as young as seven years old, were subjected to mass and gang rapes. These heinous acts were often carried out in public view or within the grim confines of rooms where the corpses of their relatives lay, a deliberate tactic to inflict maximum humiliation and profound psychological damage.
Furthermore, investigators found evidence that perpetrators frequently employed ethnic slurs during these assaults. Victims were explicitly told they were being “exterminated,” drawing chilling parallels to the atrocities previously committed against the Masalit community in West Darfur. This linguistic targeting reinforces the genocidal intent behind the RSF’s actions.
The mission’s emphasis on these acts not being isolated incidents but rather part of a planned and endorsed operation by the senior RSF leadership is a critical finding. It points towards a command structure that sanctioned and facilitated these crimes against humanity, demanding a robust and immediate international response. The report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the imperative to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
