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Amnesty International has accused Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during their seizure of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, according to a report released on Wednesday. The human rights organisation documented killings, torture, rape, sexual slavery, forced displacement, and other abuses, which it said were part of a widespread and systematic attack against civilians.

The report, titled "City Under Siege, Children Under Fire: Rapid Support Forces' Crimes Against Humanity in North Darfur," is based on interviews with 247 victims or witnesses, including 208 survivors, as well as analysis of videos and satellite imagery. Amnesty's findings cover the period from early 2024 to October 2025, when RSF captured the city after an 18-month siege.

Coverage Comparison

Multiple outlets reported on the Amnesty International report, with consistent details across their coverage. AllAfrica, an aggregator of African news, and The Guardian both highlighted the accusations of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, as well as the UN fact-finding mission's earlier conclusion that the assault bore "hallmarks of genocide." The outlets also noted the broader context of Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, according to the United Nations.

While the core facts were reported uniformly, some details varied. For instance, one AllAfrica article mentioned that the RSF has denied previous allegations of war crimes, while another noted that Amnesty had sent a letter to RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo on 10 June 2026, with no response received by the time of publication. The Guardian provided additional specifics, including that 89 videos were analysed and that three RSF commanders were named as responsible for serious violations. A separate AllAfrica piece reported that Abu Lulu, an RSF commander, was implicated in mass executions.

The humanitarian impact was widely cited, with one AllAfrica report describing it as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis" with more than 14 million people displaced and 28 million facing acute hunger.

Key Claims

  • Crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing: Amnesty International concluded that the RSF committed crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, rape, enslavement, and sexual slavery, and that the destruction of towns and villages consistent with ethnic cleansing was carried out between December 2024 and March 2025.
  • Targeting of civilians: The RSF deliberately targeted civilians, particularly members of the Zaghawa ethnic group and children. Attacks on settlements around El Fasher, which housed Zaghawa people, were systematic, with homes burned after residents fled, preventing their return.
  • Genocide findings by UN mission: An independent UN fact-finding mission stated in February that the 2025 assault on El Fasher bore "hallmarks of genocide" against non-Arab communities.
  • Siege and famine: The RSF's siege of El Fasher from May 2024 until October 2025 restricted food and humanitarian supplies, leading to what Amnesty described as a manufactured famine.
  • Commander implicated: Abu Lulu, an RSF commander, was implicated in mass executions and other atrocities in El Fasher, according to the report.
  • Calls for ceasefire and international force: Amnesty International called for an immediate nationwide ceasefire and the deployment of an international force to protect civilians. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty's secretary general, said, "The war in Sudan is a war on civilians ... It is a stain on the conscience of humanity."
  • Civil war background: Sudan has been at war since April 2023, following a power struggle between the Sudan Armed Forces and the RSF, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced.