El-fasher: Global outrage and online solidarity are building around El-Fasher city, the capital of North Darfur state in western Sudan, amid reports of atrocities by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Slogans such as ‘El-Fasher drenched in blood’ and ‘Save El-Fasher’ have dominated media coverage and social media platforms across the Arab world, as public figures and rights groups joined mounting calls demanding an end to the RSF-led siege on the city.
According to Anadolu Agency, Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan confirmed that army forces had withdrawn from the city to prevent further ‘systematic destruction and killing’ of civilians by the RSF. The city, which serves as a hub for humanitarian operations for all five Darfur states, has been under siege by the rebel group since May 2024. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry strongly denounced ‘the horrific terrorist crimes committed by the RSF militia’ in El-Fasher.
The ministry accused the RSF of carrying out acts of ethnically motivated killing and systematic terror against unarmed civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. It criticized the international community’s silence and inaction toward the RSF atrocities for the escalating crisis, citing the politicization of the Sudanese crisis and bias of certain states as contributing factors.
The Sudan Doctors Network reported that six medical personnel have been kidnapped by the paramilitary group, with demands for ransom. The network stressed the targeting of doctors as intolerable and held the RSF responsible for the lives of the kidnapped medics. They called these acts a grave violation of international and humanitarian laws.
The Joint Force of Armed Struggle Movements (JSAMF) accused the RSF of killing over 2,000 besieged citizens in El-Fasher and urged the international community to designate the RSF as a terrorist organization. Idris Laqma from the Justice and Equality Movement reported identity-based killings by RSF forces, with over 1,500 people killed.
Online solidarity has surged, with hashtags highlighting the crisis and posts describing the dire conditions of civilians in El-Fasher. Egyptian actors and Sudanese public figures have expressed solidarity and called for awareness and support. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported over 26,000 people fled El-Fasher within 48 hours due to ongoing clashes.
Since April 15, 2023, the conflict between the army and the RSF has resulted in about 20,000 deaths and displaced over 15 million people, according to UN and local reports.