New satellite imagery has raised alarming concerns regarding the ongoing violence in and around El-Fasher, a city in Sudan that recently fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Researchers from Yale University reported indications of mass killings occurring in the area, prompting widespread fear among the population.
The RSF has been engaged in brutal conflict with the Sudanese regular army since April 2023. This conflict saw the RSF seize El-Fasher on a recent Sunday, marking a significant shift in power dynamics in the western Darfur region after an arduous 18-month siege that had already devastated the area.
Since the RSF’s takeover, numerous reports have surfaced detailing horrific incidents, including summary executions, rampant sexual violence, assaults on aid workers, widespread looting, and abductions. The situation has been exacerbated by severe communication disruptions, making it even harder to obtain accurate information.
A report released by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab indicated that new satellite images point to a grim reality: a substantial portion of the city’s population could be “dead, captured, or in hiding.” The lab identified at least 31 clusters of objects resembling human bodies spread across various neighborhoods, university grounds, and military locations.
The lab’s findings underscored their concern, stating, “Indicators that mass killing is continuing are clearly visible.” Eyewitness accounts from survivors who managed to escape to the nearby town of Tawila paint a chilling picture of the situation in El-Fasher. One mother, Hayat, described the horrors of her journey, including young men in her group being stopped by paramilitary forces, with their fates unclear.
The United Nations has reported that over 65,000 individuals have fled El-Fasher, while tens of thousands remain trapped in the city. Before the RSF’s final offensive, approximately 260,000 people were residing in El-Fasher.
On a recent Thursday, the RSF claimed to have detained several fighters accused of committing atrocities during this conflict. However, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher raised skepticism regarding the RSF’s genuine willingness to investigate these violations, given both the army and the RSF have faced accusations of war crimes throughout the protracted conflict.
With the RSF’s capture of El-Fasher, they now exert control over all five state capitals in Darfur. This development effectively divides Sudan along an east-west axis, leaving the regular army in control of the north, east, and central regions. The current situation continues to evolve, with humanitarian concerns and the potential for further violence escalating dramatically in the region.
