🔗 Share this article

According to the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 civilians have left the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF during the weekend.

Reports indicate summary killings and human rights violations as paramilitary forces entered the city after an year-and-a-half siege characterized by food shortages and sustained attacks.

The flow of those fleeing the conflict towards the community of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the recent days, per UNHCR spokesperson.

Refugees were telling horrendous accounts of atrocities, including sexual violence, and the organization was having trouble to find sufficient shelter and nourishment for them.

All children was suffering from malnutrition, she commented.

It is estimated that over 150,000 residents are presently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has rejected widespread allegations that the executions in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a trend of the Arab fighters targeting non-Arab populations.

Nevertheless the RSF has arrested one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with on-the-spot executions.

The organization released footage showing the fighter's arrest following confirmation that he was involved in the killing of several civilians in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Digital platform has acknowledged that it has removed the account connected to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had managed the account in his identity.

Sudan was plunged into a civil war in April 2023 following a intense struggle for power erupted between its military and the RSF.

The conflict has resulted in a food crisis and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur area.

Over 150,000 individuals have lost their lives in the war across the country, and roughly 12 million have abandoned their homes in what the UN has described as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the regional separation in the country, with the RSF now in command of western Sudan and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the coastal region.

The two warring rivals had been collaborators - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but split over an globally supported initiative to move towards civilian leadership.