At least 1,500 civilians have been killed in Sudan’s western Darfur city of el-Fasher over the past three days, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, as paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control amid the ongoing civil war.
Survivors describe targeted executions, attacks on hospitals, and widespread atrocities that human rights groups are calling “a true genocide.”
The RSF, engaged in a violent struggle with Sudan’s military for national control, reportedly killed civilians attempting to flee el-Fasher. The Sudan Doctors Network described the assaults as part of a “deliberate and systematic campaign of killing and extermination.”
Satellite imagery analyzed by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) corroborates these claims, showing clusters of objects consistent with human bodies and large areas of red discoloration in the city.
The Sudanese government reports at least 2,000 deaths since the RSF takeover, while aid organizations have documented house-to-house raids, summary executions, and attacks along escape routes. Sexual violence, particularly against women and girls, was also reported.
Hospitals and Health Workers Targeted
One of the most harrowing reports involves the Saudi Hospital, where survivors say at least 500 people were seeking refuge. Videos circulated on social media show RSF fighters shooting at civilians and executing patients inside the hospital.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that over 460 people were killed at the Saudi Maternity Hospital, calling the reports “appalling and deeply shocking.”
Regional and international condemnation
Countries across the region have expressed alarm. Saudi Arabia condemned human rights violations and urged protection for civilians. Egypt called for an immediate humanitarian truce, while Turkiye demanded safe passage for aid. Qatar denounced the “horrific violations” and called for peace negotiations.
The RSF, originating from the Janjaweed militias responsible for Darfur’s 2000s genocide, has been accused by the United States of committing genocide in the current conflict.
Experts warn of unprecedented violence
Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of Yale’s HRL, described the killings in el-Fasher as unprecedented. Satellite imagery shows human-sized objects newly appearing in neighborhoods, hospitals, and other facilities within hours.
Ahmed Ibrahim, a former Sudanese government official, explained that failed integration of the RSF into the national army and geopolitical ambitions fueled the current civil war, with the militia seeking control over Sudan’s resources and strategic locations.
