UN Agencies Report Systematic Attacks on Civilians

The strategic city of El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan, was captured by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in October 2025 following a siege that lasted 500 days. The city’s infrastructure sustained significant damage, and the fall of the city marks the loss of the final major Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) stronghold in the Darfur region. The takeover has prompted a humanitarian crisis, with United Nations agencies documenting systematic attacks against civilians and large-scale displacement. The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias active in the Darfur conflict two decades prior.

Story Highlights

  • The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher, North Darfur, in October 2025 after a 500-day siege.
  • The city’s fall gives the RSF territorial control over the Darfur region.
  • UN agencies report systematic attacks on civilians, including the deliberate targeting of medical facilities.
  • Thousands of civilians have fled the city, traveling up to 70 kilometers to displacement camps with limited resources.
  • UN officials have condemned the global community’s inadequate response and called for intervention to protect civilians.

RSF Seize Strategic City Following Prolonged Siege

The Rapid Support Forces captured El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in October 2025. The operation followed a 500-day siege. RSF forces overwhelmed the remaining Sudanese Armed Forces defenders, and the city’s infrastructure was heavily damaged. The capture provides the RSF, whose origins are linked to the Janjaweed militias, complete territorial control over the Darfur region, an area historically impacted by internal conflict and displacement.

Reports of Systematic Attacks Target Civilian Population

Reports from UN agencies detail systematic attacks against civilians, including punitive measure, reports of assault, and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities. According to these reports, RSF forces allegedly killed nearly 500 patients at the Saudi Maternity Hospital. Women, children, and elderly residents are cited as the majority of victims within the city or those attempting escape. These incidents align with patterns of violence previously associated with the Janjaweed militias.

Desperate Displacement and Humanitarian Concerns

Civilians who are fleeing El Fasher face journeys of up to 70 kilometers on foot to reach safety, such as the Tawila displacement camp. Refugees often arrive severely malnourished, and some have reportedly died during the trek through territory controlled by armed groups. The Tawila camp is experiencing resource shortages and is struggling to support the substantial influx of new arrivals. Humanitarian agencies are working to provide basic necessities, including food, clean water, and medical care, in the increasingly strained environment.

International Response and Regional Instability

UN officials have issued statements regarding the global community’s response, calling it inadequate and urging immediate intervention. The UN Fact-Finding Mission has requested world powers to take decisive action to protect civilians from ongoing violence. International humanitarian access in the region remains restricted, which limits aid organizations’ ability to assist the affected populations and document the full scope of the reported war crimes. The crisis is also cited as a threat to regional stability, with increased refugee flows placing pressure on neighboring nations, including Chad, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Without a change in the international approach to the militia forces and civilian protection, humanitarian conditions and regional instability are projected to worsen.

Watch the report: Sudan’s RSF captures El-Fasher, sparking fears of mass killings • FRANCE 24 English

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