UN Report Finds RSF Killings in El Fasher Exhibit Hallmarks of Genocide

In Brief

UN fact-finding mission reports RSF actions in El Fasher, Sudan, show signs of genocide.

Key Facts

• The UN fact-finding mission investigated the capture of El Fasher by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) starting in October 2022
• The report covers an 18-month occupation of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur
• The RSF and allied militias are reported to have deliberately inflicted conditions targeting ethnic communities
• The UN mission concluded that the killings and destruction in El Fasher carry the hallmarks of genocide
• The findings were released by a UN-mandated fact-finding mission tasked with investigating the conflict in Sudan

What Happened

In October 2022, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan, captured El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. A UN fact-finding mission investigated the subsequent 18-month occupation and reported that the RSF and allied militias deliberately inflicted conditions targeting ethnic communities. The mission concluded that these actions bear the hallmarks of genocide.

Why It Matters

The UN report highlights serious human rights concerns and potential violations of international law in Sudan’s ongoing conflict. The designation of these acts as bearing hallmarks of genocide may influence international responses, humanitarian aid efforts, and future accountability measures. It underscores the severity of the conflict’s impact on civilian populations in Darfur.