🔗 Share this article

As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, over 60,000 individuals have escaped the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the paramilitary RSF over the weekend.

Reports indicate summary killings and human rights violations as paramilitary forces took control of the city after an 18-month blockade featuring food shortages and intense shelling.

The movement of those running from the fighting towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, as stated by UNHCR representative.

They were telling shocking stories of atrocities, featuring sexual violence, and the humanitarian group was struggling to secure sufficient accommodation and nourishment for them.

Every child was suffering from undernourishment, she added.

Estimates suggest that over 150,000 individuals are still trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the military's last bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has denied widespread accusations that the executions in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and follow a practice of the Arab militia groups attacking non-Arab populations.

Nevertheless the RSF has custodied one of its members, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in on-the-spot executions.

The organization released footage revealing the member's detention following identification that he was responsible for the killing of numerous non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Social media platform has acknowledged that it has removed the account linked to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had managed the account in his name.

Sudan was entered a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a intense struggle for power began between its army and the RSF.

This has resulted in a famine and claims of mass killing in the Darfur area.

In excess of 150,000 persons have lost their lives in the fighting across the country, and about 12 million have abandoned their homes in what the UN has termed the most extensive humanitarian disaster.

The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in command of the western region and much of adjacent Kordofan to the south, and the military holding the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.

The two warring rivals had been partners - gaining control together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an foreign-endorsed initiative to move towards democratic governance.