"Hallmarks of Genocide": UN Report Details October Massacre in El Fasher

Southerton Business Times
4 days ago
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Daily life continues in the city of Al-Hilaliya despite widespread destruction, as residents say the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), fighting the Sudanese army, kept the city under siege for nearly two months, looted homes, and even poisoned water wells in Al Hilaliya, Al Jazirah state of Sudan, on January 20, 2026. Muhammed Emin Canik/Anadolu/Getty Images — Daily life continues in the city of Al-Hilaliya despite widespread destruction, as residents say the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), fighting the Sudanese army, kept the city under siege for nearly two months, looted homes, and even poisoned water wells in Al Hilaliya, Al Jazirah state of Sudan, on January 20, 2026.Muhammed Emin Canik/Anadolu/Getty Images

Location: Geneva / El Fasher- A devastating "campaign of destruction" carried out by Sudanese rebels against non-Arab communities in El Fasher shows the "hallmarks of genocide," according to a landmark report released Thursday by UN-backed human rights experts. The findings provide the most damning evidence to date of ethnically targeted mass killings in Sudan’s western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following an 18-month siege, allegedly overran the city on October 26, 2024, imposing conditions "calculated to bring about the physical destruction" of the Zaghawa and Fur communities.

The Massacre in Numbers

The takeover of El Fasher, previously the Sudanese army’s final stronghold in Darfur, resulted in a catastrophic loss of life. UN officials provided the following statistics regarding the onslaught:

Statistic	Figure
Total Residents Before October Strike	260,000
Percentage of Residents Who Fled Alive	40% (approx. 104,000)
Killed Between Oct 25 – Oct 27	Over 6,000
Killed at Abu Shouk Displacement Camp	At least 300
Total Deaths in Sudan Conflict (Estimate)	Over 40,000*

*Note: Aid groups suggest the true death toll may be many times higher due to unrecorded casualties.

Genocide Criteria Met

The UN-backed fact-finding mission, chaired by former Tanzanian Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman, assessed the RSF’s actions against the 1948 Genocide Convention. While only one of five criteria is required for a genocide determination, the team found evidence for three:

Killing members of a group: Systematic executions of Zaghawa and Fur individuals.
Causing serious bodily or mental harm: Widespread sexual violence and torture.
Deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction: Imposing a siege that left residents malnourished and exhausted before the final attack.

The report documented chilling testimonies from survivors, with RSF fighters reportedly stating, "We want to eliminate anything black from Darfur," and specifically seeking out members of the Zaghawa tribe for execution while sparing those perceived as Arab.

The Road to Accountability

The RSF, which evolved from the notorious Janjaweed militias of the early 2000s, has expanded its influence despite international condemnation. While RSF commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo has acknowledged "abuses," he continues to dispute the scale. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has faced ongoing allegations from UN experts regarding its support for the RSF—allegations the UAE continues to deny.

The fact-finding team warns that as the conflict spreads, the international community must move beyond "taking note" and toward active protection of civilians to prevent further ethnic cleansing.

Sudan genocide report El Fasher