Sudanese militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters are committing war crimes in the Darfur town of El Fasher, human rights group Amnesty International has claimed in a new report, according to Al Jazeera.
The report was published on Tuesday, hours after RSF announced it would immediately conclude a three-month humanitarian ceasefire “in response to international efforts” led by US President Donald Trump.
Sudan was thrown into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital Khartoum and other parts of the country.
In its latest report, Amnesty International said it had collected testimonies from 28 survivors who described atrocities at El Fasher, ranging from the summary executions of unarmed men to the rapes of girls and women.
Amnesty International Director Agnes Callamard said: “This sustained and widespread violence against civilians amounts to a war crime and may fall under other crimes under international law.”
The war in the Darfur region is fighting between General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan’s regular forces and the RSF, led by his former right-hand man and ally Mohamed Dagro since April 2023.
In late October, the RSF captured El Fasher, the last major city outside its control in a vast area of western Darfur.
Last week, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said El Fasher had been turned into a “crime scene” and those who committed these crimes must “face justice”.
On Sunday, Burhan rejected a US ceasefire proposal from the Quad Mediation Committee group, calling it “the worst ever” and unacceptable.
The Quad Group consists of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Burhan argued that the presence of the UAE, which he accused of supporting the RSF in the Quad, meant the offer could not be considered fair.
The UAE has consistently denied involvement in Sudan’s war and on Monday accused Burhan of “consistent acts of sabotage.”