Amnesty International Details Horrific War Crimes by RSF in Sudan's El Fasher

Amnesty International has released a damning report, published on November 25, 2025, detailing alleged war crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their capture of El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan. The human rights organization gathered testimonies from survivors recounting widespread atrocities.

The report specifically highlights the execution of unarmed men and pervasive sexual violence against women and girls in the city, according to amnesty International's findings on Tuesday. These horrific acts occurred as the RSF seized control of El Fasher in late October 2025, following an 18-month siege.

Survivors interviewed by Amnesty International researchers described witnessing men being shot or beaten, with some taken hostage for ransom. Female survivors detailed being subjected to sexual violence by RSF fighters, including their daughters, as reported by The Hindu on November 25, 2025.

Amnesty International's Secretary-General, Agnès Callamard, stated that this persistent and widespread violence against civilians constitutes war crimes and potentially other crimes under international law. She emphasized that all those responsible must be held accountable for their actions, as reported by okayafrica on November 25, 2025.

The report underscores the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, exacerbated by these atrocities in El Fasher. The UN has described the conflict as the world's largest humanitarian and displacement crisis, with millions in urgent need of assistance, according to a November 25, 2025, House of Lords Library briefing.

UN experts expressed alarm on November 7, 2025, over reports of widespread atrocities, including killings and sexual violence, in El Fasher, calling for immediate cessation and independent investigations. The international community faces increasing pressure to address the dire situation and ensure protection for civilians, as noted by UN News.

• The fall of El Fasher in late October 2025 marked a critical turning point in the ongoing conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which began in April 2023. El Fasher was the last major city in Darfur not fully under RSF control, and its capture has led to a new phase of terror, including house-to-house searches and summary executions, as reported by The New Humanitarian on November 4, 2025.
• The humanitarian situation in El Fasher and across Sudan is catastrophic, with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reporting alarming violations against civilians fleeing the city. Millions are displaced, and famine conditions have been confirmed in El Fasher and other towns, according to un experts on November 7, 2025. Access to food, water, and medical care is severely limited, with aid convoys facing significant insecurity.
• Eyewitness accounts collected by Amnesty International and other sources paint a grim picture of the violence. Survivors described seeing hundreds of dead bodies in the streets and on roads leading out of El Fasher. The World Health Organization reported that at least 460 people, including patients and companions, were killed at the Saudi Maternity Hospital, one of the few functioning health facilities.
• Sexual violence, particularly against women and girls, appears to be a systematic tactic used by the RSF, with reports of gang-rapes and abuse occurring in front of relatives. The New Humanitarian reported on November 21, 2025, that women and girls fleeing El Fasher described brutal sexual violence by RSF fighters, with some held captive for days. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also warned about systematic sexual violence being used as a weapon of war in Darfur.
• The International Criminal Court (ICC) has an ongoing investigation into crimes in Darfur, initiated by the UN Security Council in 2005. On October 6, 2025, the ICC found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (Ali Kushayb) guilty of 27 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including gender-based crimes like rape. This conviction highlights the long-standing nature of atrocities in the region and the slow pursuit of justice.
• The international community, including the UN Security Council, has held emergency sessions condemning the atrocities in El Fasher and calling for an immediate ceasefire and accountability. However, concerns remain that the response has not been commensurate with the scale of the atrocities, as noted by ReliefWeb on November 21, 2025. There are also accusations, including from Amnesty International, that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been supporting the RSF, fueling the conflict.
• The conflict has displaced over 12 million people, making it the world's largest displacement crisis, and 25 million people face acute hunger, with 637,000 on the brink of famine. The UNHCR and partners are working to provide assistance to those displaced, including protection monitoring and support for sexual violence survivors, as reported by un News on November 24, 2025. The UN continues to call for an end to hostilities to allow for urgent humanitarian aid.