A new report released on Friday says the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias committed atrocities that amount to war crimes and may constitute crimes against humanity.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Volker Türk said persistent impunity in Sudan is driving repeated cycles of violence and called for credible investigations and accountability. Sudan’s national army and the RSF have been fighting for control of the country for almost three years, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.
Based on hundreds of interviews with victims and witnesses carried out in late 2025, the report details widespread violations, including mass killings, summary executions, torture, abductions for ransom, pillage and the use of children in hostilities. Many attacks targeted civilians and people no longer taking part in fighting, often based on ethnicity or suspected affiliation with opposing forces.
The report says more than 6 000 people were killed during the first three days of the RSF’s offensive on El Fasher, although the true death toll is believed to be far higher. In one of the most shocking incidents, around 500 people sheltering at Al Rashid dormitory at El Fasher University were killed when RSF fighters opened fire with heavy weapons on a crowd of about 1 000 on October 26. Witnesses described bodies being thrown into the air “like a scene out of a horror movie”.
The report also documents patterns of rape and gang rape, particularly targeting women and girls from non Arab communities such as the Zaghawa. Sexual violence was reportedly used both as a weapon and as part of extortion and abduction.
OHCHR says the violations mirror those seen in other RSF offensives, suggesting a systematic attack on civilians across Darfur. Türk urged all parties to stop violations, called on States to enforce the arms embargo and appealed for stronger support for mediation efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire and restoring inclusive civilian governance.
He said human rights must be central to efforts to end the conflict and prevent further atrocities.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
