By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) seizure of El Fasher, reports of ethnic-based atrocities have emerged, including video evidence suggesting summary executions of civilians. Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab has found evidence of mass killings, describing a systematic “ethnic cleansing” of non-Arab communities. The UN Human Rights Office is receiving alarming reports of summary executions, potentially with ethnic motivations, while thousands have already been displaced. With communications cut off, and humanitarian aid lacking, the situation in El Fasher is dire, raising fears of a repeat of past RSF massacres in Darfur.
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Mass killings reported in Sudanese city seized by paramilitary group is a harrowing reality. The recent reports detailing atrocities in El Fasher, a city in Sudan’s Darfur region, are deeply disturbing and demand attention. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, has taken control of the city over the weekend, and the consequences for civilians are devastating. Video evidence shared by activists shows the horrifying reality – a fighter known for executing civilians in RSF-controlled areas shooting unarmed civilians at point-blank range. This is a chilling depiction of the brutality unfolding in Sudan.
The world seems to be barely discussing the conflict, let alone paying proper attention. It’s hard to ignore the feeling that this crisis has been simmering for years, yet it remains largely absent from mainstream media coverage. This is not simply a new conflict; it’s a potential repeat of the Darfur genocide, a tragedy that the world vowed to never forget. But as news cycles churn and global events compete for our attention, the suffering in Sudan fades into the background. Starvation and violence have plagued this region for years, and now mass killings are reported.
Sadly, the lack of widespread outrage or calls for intervention is a stark contrast to how other conflicts are covered. It’s a bitter truth, and the world is slow to respond, if it responds at all. The situation is complicated, and finding a solution is far from easy. A few ideas are thrown around, like the need for boots on the ground, strategic bombings, or the enforcement of sanctions against the groups’ sponsors, but the truth is that the path forward is unclear. The UN will likely send strongly worded messages, while the killing continues.
This is a crisis that deserves immediate global attention, and the silence is deafening. The situation in Sudan is a humanitarian disaster of immense proportions. It’s a tragedy that the world seems to have forgotten, even as it rages on. The world needs to understand, that this is the real deal and call it what it is; genocide. The question of why this isn’t more widely reported lingers. The lack of attention often felt in this region is frustrating. Some speculate that the victims of the violence might be of a particular religious affiliation. The funding of the RSF by the UAE needs to be scrutinized.
The roots of the conflict lie in the coup of 2021, when the generals of the Sudanese army (SAF) and the RSF, formerly united, split over how to run the country. This led to a violent power struggle. The RSF, reminiscent of the Janjaweed militia from the previous genocide, is primarily composed of Arab mercenaries. They are committing atrocities against ethnic groups like the Masalit, Fur, and Zaghawa in the Darfur region. Reports detail the RSF’s systematic targeting of civilians, including the execution of men, and the taking of women. The RSF has been known to lock families in their homes before setting them ablaze.
The RSF’s actions extend beyond direct violence. They have been preventing aid from reaching Al-Fashir. The blockade of aid and entry points into the city has been a tactic to starve the population into submission. The SAF’s presence hasn’t brought much solace either. While not as genocidal, they are also accused of indiscriminate killings, prioritizing the elimination of RSF fighters, even if it meant endangering civilians. They too have been described as careless and brutal themselves.
The scale of human suffering is almost impossible to comprehend. Mass famine is rampant, with estimates suggesting over 500,000 children alone have died from starvation across the country. Adult deaths are also estimated in the hundreds of thousands. Millions more are displaced, creating the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, even bigger than those in other conflict zones. Both the SAF and RSF are accused of widespread human rights violations: torture, forced child marriages, and sexual assault, including against young children. It is clear that Western nations have tried negotiating a ceasefire, but peace remains elusive.
The RSF’s genocidal actions are a direct continuation of the Janjaweed, who committed the first Darfur genocide. The current conflict, escalating since 2023, is a tragedy largely ignored by the world. The world has seemed to lose interest, distracted by other global challenges. Direct military intervention may be the only realistic solution, but it is unlikely given the complex web of international players involved in the conflict.
The involvement of the UAE and Saudi Arabia on opposing sides is a problem. The involvement of China and Russia in supplying arms, and the involvement of Egypt and Ethiopia complicates any efforts to bring peace. Frankly, like Myanmar’s civil war, it will only stop once one side wins. This is a global failure of empathy and action. It needs to be placed on a larger platform, not forgotten. The fact remains, and it is a sad truth that the world seems to only care when it fits a particular narrative.
It is important to remember that both the SAF and RSF are Arabic Sudanese and regard the sub-Saharan African ethnic groups, who the RSF are slaughtering, as a kind of enemy within, linked to their old enemies in South Sudan. The government is not trying to help the ones they are harming. There will likely never be a supermajority that will authorize intervention. It is a sad state of affairs. The truth is that the world must do more.