Doctors Report Ethnic Killings and Cholera Outbreak in RSF Detention Centres

El Fasher, April 27, 2026 - Sudanese medical professionals have raised alarm over reports of ethnically targeted killings and a severe cholera outbreak inside detention facilities run by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, North Darfur.

According to findings covering the period from January to April 2026, hundreds of civilians, including women and children, are being held in RSF-controlled detention sites under conditions described as inhumane. The report alleges that detainees are subjected to torture, interrogation, and, in some cases, execution based on ethnic identity.

Data compiled by medical networks indicate that approximately 907 military detainees and 1,470 civilians are currently in custody. Among the civilian detainees are 426 children and 370 women, held in various locations including Shala Prison, a pediatric hospital, the land port, and makeshift facilities such as shipping containers.

Health conditions within these centres are reported to be critical. A cholera outbreak that began in February has spread rapidly due to overcrowding, lack of clean water, poor sanitation, and widespread malnutrition. Medical sources estimate that between five and 10 people are dying each week due to inadequate access to treatment, with total deaths linked to the outbreak surpassing 300 over the past two months.

The report also describes grim conditions in which bodies are sometimes left for extended periods within detention areas before other detainees are compelled to bury them.

Healthcare services in El Fasher have largely collapsed amid ongoing conflict, with severe shortages of medical staff and supplies. At least 22 doctors, including four women, are reported to have been detained, further weakening the already strained health system.

The findings add to growing concerns over conditions in detention facilities and the broader humanitarian crisis in Darfur as the conflict continues.