RSF Accused of Killing 16 Civilians in Ethnically Motivated Attack in El Fasher

Sudan, March 25, 2026 - At least 16 civilians, including three women, were killed in what has been described as an ethnically motivated attack in El Fasher, according to a medical network monitoring the conflict in the region.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Sudan Doctors Network alleged that members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out summary executions targeting unarmed residents in the city. The victims were reportedly buried in three separate mass graves on the outskirts of El Fasher, in what the group described as a reflection of the scale of the tragedy facing civilians in conflict zones.

The group condemned the killings as a “heinous crime” and a blatant violation of international law and fundamental human values.

The RSF has faced repeated accusations of systematic abuses in El Fasher since launching a major offensive in May 2024. Allegations include the destruction of hospitals and water infrastructure, as well as widespread violence against civilians. Reports of mass killings intensified after the paramilitary group seized full control of the city in October.

On February 19, 2026, a United Nations fact-finding mission concluded that the RSF had committed acts amounting to genocide during its takeover of El Fasher. Earlier findings by the UN Human Rights Office documented more than 6,000 deaths during the first three days of the assault, with thousands more killed during the subsequent occupation or while attempting to flee.

Assessments by the International Criminal Court and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights indicate that war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed in the North Darfur capital.

The Sudan Doctors Network warned that the continued targeting of civilians based on identity reflects an escalating pattern of systematic violence across the Darfur region. It called on the international community and human rights organizations to take urgent action to halt ongoing violations, which have displaced thousands of women and children since October.

The statement also held RSF leadership responsible and urged global powers to take more decisive action to address the humanitarian crisis. Since consolidating control over the city, the RSF has imposed strict restrictions on humanitarian access and banned satellite internet services-moves observers say are intended to limit the flow of information and conceal evidence of atrocities.