Just over two weeks ago, the so-called Rapid Reaction Force (RSF) took over the city of Al-Fashir in western Sudan. Since then, reports of mass killings, ethnic violence, kidnappings and sexual assaults have been increasing. Various media outlets have quoted eyewitnesses who say people are being targeted because of their ethnicity.
The RSF has been at war with the regular Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023. The conflict between them was sparked by the reluctance of the RSF's supreme commander, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, known as Hemeti, to integrate his paramilitary units into the SAF. The Rapid Reaction Force (RSF) is a branch of the notorious Janjaweed militias, created by the ousted ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The paramilitary group is responsible for many human rights violations during the Darfur conflict at the beginning of the new millennium.
"The level of brutality has reached a new level"
This is not the first time we have witnessed mass killings in Al-Fashir, says Hajer Ali, a Sudan expert at the GIGA Institute for Global and Regional Studies. "But the level of brutality has already reached a new, shocking level. Virtually anyone who does not enthusiastically support the RSF, refuses to join them or opposes them is in danger. "You no longer need a chain of command to use violence," he said.
According to various estimates, up to 90,000 people have left Al-Fashir in recent days, Kelly Clements, deputy high commissioner for the UN refugee agency UNHCR, told DW. "People are arriving with nothing, they are deeply traumatized, they have wounds. Most of the women and girls have been attacked or sexually assaulted," she said.
"From the very beginning, the RSF has been portraying their tactical successes on the battlefield as bigger and more important than they really are. So it is logical to assume that after their defeat in Khartoum they want to stage the capture of Darfur and send a threatening message to the SAF," Hajer Ali explained the reasons for their brutality. It is also about the country's raw materials - such as gold and acacia gum arabic, he continues. "There is increasing evidence that the RSF is trying to export these resources across the country's borders. In this way, they are also financing their own government, which they are currently trying to create."
Suspicions of mass arrests and mass killings
Recently, indications have been growing that mass arrests and killings have been carried out in Al-Fashir and the surrounding area. For example, the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) reported the discovery of "objects that look like corpses" in various places. These observations coincide with reports of executions and killings of people who tried to leave the city.
The Center for Information Resilience (CIR) also reported confirmed footage of mass arrests and killings northwest of Al Fasher - along the route of civilians fleeing Al Fasher to the town of Gurney, about 320 kilometers west of it.
Accusations of "demographic cleansing"
As early as mid-September, the Sudan War Monitor warned of the growing violence in Darfur. At that time, the Al Safiya mosque in Darfur was attacked by drones - right during Friday prayers: "The killings in Al Safiya have heightened concerns that the RSF campaign is not just about military victory, but also about demographic cleansing." There are also reports of systematic famine in the area.
On Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelati met Sudanese army chief General Abdel-Fattah Burhan in Port Sudan. The two discussed the peace plan presented in September by the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It calls for a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a nine-month political process. Last week, RSF said it accepted the humanitarian truce proposal. The Sudanese army also welcomed the plan, but said it would only accept it if the RSF withdrew from civilian areas and handed over its weapons.
Whether international efforts will actually end the war is questionable, says Hajer Ali: "Unfortunately, the only thing that can protect people on the ground is military force. For example, buffer zones and armed escorts so that civilians can be evacuated."
Sanctions and embargoes are important, but they take a long time to take effect. And sending in African forces or blue helmets requires a mandate from the UN Security Council. And Russia can always veto it, Ali added. "The situation looks very difficult at the moment," he summed up.
Author: Kersten Knip