Over 6,000 Killed in RSF Attack on El-Fasher, Sudan: UN Report
A United Nations (UN) report states that over 6,000 people were killed in a three-day offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to capture the city of El-Fasher in Sudan last October. The atrocities committed during the attack are described as shocking in their scale and brutality, amounting to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
The Siege of El-Fasher
The RSF, along with allied Janjaweed militias, launched an intense and violent attack on El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, resulting in the deaths of thousands and the city's eventual capture. The UN Human Rights Office released a report last Friday revealing the scale of atrocities committed, labeling the scene as out of a horror movie.
In the report, the UN warns of the RSF's wave of intense violence...shocking in its scale and brutality,
with mass killings, sexual violence, and targeted attacks against civilians. The RSF's actions during the siege have been condemned by a coalition of international powers, who have also expressed concern over escalating military operations in Sudan.
Atrocities and International Silence
Despite the scale of the atrocities committed, Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has condemned the international community's silence over the events in El-Fasher, Darfur, and the Kordofan regions. The ministry specifically criticizes the lack of response to the actions of the RSF and its affiliated so-called Tasis government.
The RSF has been accused of grave abuses in Shala Prison, southwest of El-Fasher. Reports from local groups suggest that at least 300 wounded detainees have died over the past two months due to untreated injuries, gangrene, and maggot infestations. Cholera has also broken out in the prison, which houses an estimated 9,000 civilians and has been under RSF control since late October.
Calls for Accountability
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on the international community to hold those responsible for the atrocities and war crimes accountable. Türk urged for more efforts to end the war in Sudan, highlighting the urgent need for accountability and peace.
Conclusion
The events in El-Fasher indicate a disturbing escalation in conflict and violence in Sudan. As the international community grapples with the scale and severity of the RSF's actions, the urgency for intervention, accountability, and an end to the ongoing war grows. The UN report serves as a clarion call for immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan.