Geneva – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Monday described the events in El Fasher, Sudan, as a “preventable human rights catastrophe,” detailing widespread atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated militias during their assault on the city in late 2025. The offensive, which began with an 18-month siege and bombardment, resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of tens of thousands more, according to a report released by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Based on hundreds of interviews with victims and witnesses, the OHCHR documented more than 6,000 killings in the first three days of the RSF offensive, warning that the actual death toll is “undoubtedly significantly higher.” Türk, who visited Sudan and spoke directly with survivors, stated that he had “rarely seen people so traumatized by their experiences.” He emphasized that the violence was not simply collateral damage, but a systematic attack against the civilian population in the Darfur region.
The report details a pattern of mass killings and summary executions, with RSF fighters targeting civilians and those no longer participating in hostilities. A particularly horrific incident occurred on October 26th at Al-Rashid dormitory at El Fasher University, where approximately 500 people were killed when RSF forces opened fire on a crowd of 1,000 sheltering inside. One witness described the scene as “like a scene out of a horror movie,” with bodies “thrown into the air.”
Beyond killings, the report documents widespread sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, often used as a weapon of war and a means of abduction for ransom. Women and girls from the Zaghawa and other non-Arab communities were identified as being at particular risk. Survivors similarly reported torture, ill-treatment, detention, disappearances, and the use of children in hostilities. Pillage was also widespread.
Türk highlighted that victims were often targeted based on their ethnicity, specifically their non-Arab identity, with members of the Zaghawa community disproportionately affected. This echoes similar patterns of violence observed during previous RSF offensives, such as the attack on the Zamzam camp in April 2025. The OHCHR asserts that the “organized and sustained course of conduct” suggests a systematic attack against the civilian population, potentially amounting to crimes against humanity. OHCHR Press Release
The UN Human Rights High Commissioner delivered an oral update on the situation in El Fasher to the Human Rights Council on February 9, 2026, reiterating his outrage and calling for accountability. UNOG Newsroom. Türk urged all parties to the conflict to complete violations committed by forces under their command and called on States with influence to prevent further atrocities, including by respecting the existing arms embargo and halting the flow of weapons to the region.
He also emphasized the demand for support for local, regional, and international mediation efforts to achieve a cessation of hostilities and a pathway towards inclusive civilian governance. “In a protection crisis of this scale, human rights must remain central to efforts to achieve a durable resolution of the conflict,” Türk stated. The question of accountability for the atrocities committed in El Fasher remains unresolved, with no immediate plans for independent investigations or prosecutions announced as of Monday.
