Sudan War: RSF Accused of Mass Killings and Cover-Ups in El Fasher

This is Democracy Now! democracynow.org, teh War and Peace Report.

we end today’s show looking at the devastating war in Sudan, the UAE-backed paramilitary Rapid Support forces, the RSF facing accusations of attempting to cover up its mass killings of civilians in the city of El Fasher by burning and burying bodies. That’s according to a new report by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, which analyzed satellite images depicting RSF fighters likely disposing of tens of thousands of remains following its capture of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in October. At least 1,500 people were killed in just 48 hours after the RSF seized the city. The report said this pattern of body disposal and destruction is ongoing.

In the latest news from Sudan, al Jazeera reports drone strikes have plunged several cities into darkness, including the capital Khartoum and the coastal city of Port Sudan. The RSF and the Sudanese military have been increasingly using drones in a war that’s killed over 150,000 people since April 2023. Six U.N. peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed last week in a drone strike on their base in Kadugli.

this is Volker Türk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, speaking last week.

VOLKER TÜRKISH: In Sudan, the brutal conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces continues unabated. From Darfur and the Kordofans to Khartoum and Omdurman and beyond, no Sudanese civilian has been left untouched by the cruel and senseless violence. I’m extremely worried,and I say it again,that we may see a repeat of the atrocities committed in El Fasher in Kordofan.

And this is Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the Humanitarian research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health, speaking on Democracy Now! earlier this month.

NATHANIEL RAYMOND: What we’re seeing, through very high-resolution satellite imagery, is at least 140 large piles of bodies that appear at the end of October into early November, and we see basically a pattern of activity by the Rapid Support Forces that indicates they’ve been burning and burying bodies for almost the better part of five weeks. Simultaneously occurring, we see none of the pattern of life that we expect to see in a place with civilians. There’s grass growing in the main market in El Fasher. There’s no activity at the water points or in the streets. And there’s no sign of civilian vehicles, such as donkey carts or cars. Basically, we see a ghost town, where the only visible activity is Rapid Support Forces in what’s called their technicals, their armed pickup trucks, moving objects consistent with human remains around, burying them and burning them.

Sudan Conflict: Expansion, Economic Impact, and Humanitarian Crisis

The conflict in Sudan is rapidly escalating, extending beyond Darfur and perhaps threatening regional stability. Recent developments, including the capture of key areas by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), raise serious concerns about the future of the country and its relationship with South Sudan.

Western Kordofan, a region vital to Sudan’s economy, has recently been captured by the RSF. This area is crucial as it’s a key transit point for oil being transported via pipeline to the Sudanese coast. The Sudanese government in Port Sudan heavily relies on the revenue generated from these oil transfers, making control of this region economically meaningful.

This capture is notably troubling because the area has been long disputed. The RSF’s actions have the potential to broaden the conflict, not only within Darfur and Kordofan but also into South Sudan.

Adding to the instability, a recent drone attack killed U.N. peacekeepers stationed in the region. While attribution is still under investigation, this attack undermines the fragile truce maintained by the long-standing U.N. peacekeeping force between North and South Sudan, jeopardizing efforts to keep the peace.

Currently, the war is expanding through Darfur and El Fasher, now reaching Western Kordofan. This region is economically important as a source and smuggling route for key commodities like gum arabic, sesame, and gold. The combined effect of these developments is a worsening humanitarian crisis and a military stalemate, with the RSF militias achieving significant victories on the ground.

Key Takeaways

• The conflict in Sudan is expanding beyond its initial areas of focus.
• Control of Western Kordofan is economically vital due to oil pipelines and commodity trade.
• The drone attack on U.N. peacekeepers threatens the fragile truce between North and South Sudan.
• The RSF is gaining military ground, contributing to a stalemate and worsening humanitarian crisis.

Publication Date: 2025/12/18 23:40:23