Sudan: UN Reports 6,000+ Killed in Al Fashir, Accuses RSF of War Crimes
More than 6,000 people were killed in a three-day period last October when the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, according to a novel report from the United Nations Human Rights Office. The offensive, which began on October 25, 2025, involved widespread atrocities that the UN has characterized as war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity.
The UN report details the killing of at least 4,400 people within the city limits between October 25th and 27th. An additional 1,600 people were killed while attempting to flee the violence as the RSF and affiliated Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, overran Al Fashir – the Sudanese army’s final major stronghold in the Darfur region – after an 18-month siege.
The documented atrocities include mass killings, summary executions, sexual violence, abductions for ransom, torture, and disappearances. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, stated that the rights violations underscored how “persistent impunity fuels continued cycles of violence” in Sudan.
The report specifically highlights a pattern of ethnicity-motivated attacks. Sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was reportedly widespread, with RSF fighters and allied militias specifically targeting women and girls.
The RSF has not publicly responded to the UN’s allegations. Though, the report notes that the alleged atrocities in Al Fashir mirror conduct observed in other areas where the RSF has been engaged in fighting against the Sudanese army. The UN report also points to the RSF’s practice of documenting its own war crimes, with videos circulating online depicting fighters lynching individuals, attacking emergency responders, and celebrating over the bodies of the deceased.
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, stemming from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The fighting has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, pushing parts of the country towards famine. The International Criminal Court is currently investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has faced accusations of supporting the RSF. An RSF intelligence officer reportedly confirmed this support in a recent interview with Sky News, but the UAE’s foreign ministry has vehemently denied these claims, stating it “categorically reject[s] any claims of providing any form of support to either warring party since the onset of the civil war.”
The UN report does not detail any ongoing investigations into the UAE’s alleged support of the RSF, nor does it outline any immediate steps to address the alleged impunity for the atrocities committed in Al Fashir.