Al Fashir crisis

Mass killings of non-Arab communities during the capture of al-Fashir by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) bear hallmarks of genocide, according to a report by an independent UN probe.

The United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan said that when the RSF seized the city in October 2025—then the last stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur—thousands were killed or raped during three days of violence.

Key Findings

• The RSF’s actions showed patterns consistent with genocide, including targeted killings of non-Arab communities.
• Widespread reports of rape, displacement, and destruction of property were documented during the siege and takeover.
• The atrocities occurred amid the broader conflict between the SAF and RSF that has devastated large parts of Sudan since 2023.

Sanctions by the United States

The United States imposed sanctions on three RSF commanders for their alleged role in the 18-month siege and capture of al-Fashir, accusing the paramilitary group of systematic and widespread killings.

Background

The RSF, led by commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has been locked in a brutal conflict with Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since April 2023. The fighting has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and widespread famine risk across Sudan.