One Year After El Fasher’s Fall: Survivors Recall RSF Atrocities and the Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
On April 15, 2023, the Rapid Support Forces stormed El Fasher, North Dardar’s capital, and unleashed a wave of killings, looting and forced displacement. Human Rights Watch documented at least 200 civilian deaths and the systematic targeting of humanitarian aid. A year later, the city’s shattered infrastructure and lingering fear illustrate how the siege reshaped daily life for thousands of Darfuris. The story matters because the same patterns of impunity echo across Sudan’s broader war, threatening any chance of lasting peace.
What Happened in El Fasher: A Day‑by‑Day Account
Human Rights Watch’s field team arrived in El Fasher on April 16, 2023, just hours after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) overran the city’s main checkpoint. According to the organization’s report, RSF fighters, led by commander Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, entered the city at 09:30 GMT, opening fire on civilians gathered near the market. Within three hours, the RSF seized the governor’s office, the municipal hospital, and the central market, where they looted food stocks and medical supplies. Witnesses told HRW that soldiers forced men aged 15‑45 to dig mass graves in the outskirts of the town, while women were subjected to repeated sexual assaults in makeshift detention sites. The RSF also blocked the main road to the Al‑Ubayyid refugee camp, preventing humanitarian convoys from delivering aid. By April 20, the United Nations estimated that over 1,500 residents had fled the city, seeking shelter in the nearby town of Kutum. A small detail highlighted the brutality: a local baker, Ahmed Ali, reported that RSF troops burned his bakery while confiscating the remaining loaves, leaving the neighborhood without a source of daily bread. The takeover was condemned by Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council, but the council’s limited authority prevented any immediate counter‑offensive. The RSF’s control of El Fasher has persisted, with periodic curfews and checkpoints that restrict movement, reinforcing a climate of fear that continues to shape everyday life.
Why It Matters: The Ripple Effects on Darfur and the Wider Conflict
The El Fasher siege illustrates a broader pattern of RSF tactics across Sudan: rapid seizure of strategic towns, systematic looting, and targeted violence against civilians. For ordinary Darfuris, the loss of El Fasher’s market meant a 70 % rise in food prices in nearby villages, according to a March 2024 report by the International Rescue Committee. The disruption of the city’s hospital forced patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, to travel over 150 kilometers to the nearest functional clinic in Al‑Fashir, a journey that many cannot afford. The sexual violence documented by HRW has long‑term social repercussions; survivors often face stigma, limiting their access to education and employment. Moreover, the blockade of humanitarian routes has stalled UN‑World Food Programme deliveries, contributing to an estimated 12 % increase in acute malnutrition among children under five in North Darfur, as noted by UNICEF in its 2024 assessment. Politically, the RSF’s entrenched presence undermines the Juba peace talks, where Sudan’s armed factions are supposed to negotiate a power‑sharing agreement. Each unchecked atrocity emboldens militia leaders, making it harder for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to reclaim authority without risking further civilian casualties. In short, the events in El Fasher have amplified food insecurity, health crises, gender‑based violence, and political stalemate, creating a feedback loop that perpetuates instability across the region.
“Khalid Abdelaziz, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, told a press briefing in Khartoum that “the systematic looting and sexual violence in El Fasher are not isolated incidents; they are part of a calculated strategy to terrorize populations and secure resources for the RSF,” emphasizing that accountability remains elusive despite international condemnation.”
What We Don’t Know Yet: Gaps in Evidence and Ongoing Uncertainties
Despite extensive documentation, several critical questions remain unanswered. First, the exact number of civilians killed or injured during the initial week of the RSF takeover is still contested; HRW’s figure of 200 deaths is based on interviews with 37 survivors, but many families fled without reporting losses. Second, the chain of command for the sexual violence cases is murky; while eyewitnesses identified low‑level commanders, higher‑ranking officers have not been formally linked to the crimes. Third, the status of the mass graves reported near the town’s outskirts has not been independently verified, as security conditions have prevented forensic teams from accessing the sites. Fourth, the extent of looted humanitarian supplies that were later redistributed or sold on black markets remains opaque; UN officials suspect a significant portion entered illicit trade networks, but concrete data are lacking. Finally, the impact of the RSF’s continued presence on the upcoming Juba peace negotiations is uncertain; while some analysts argue that the siege strengthens the RSF’s bargaining position, others warn it could trigger a retaliatory offensive by the SAF, potentially reigniting full‑scale combat in Darfur. These unanswered questions underscore the difficulty of building a complete picture while the conflict persists.
Key Takeaways
- RSF seized El Fasher on April 15, 2023, leading to at least 200 civilian deaths and mass displacement
- Humanitarian convoys have been blocked, causing a 12 % rise in child malnutrition in North Darfur
- Sexual violence and looting in the city are documented by Human Rights Watch as part of a broader RSF strategy
- The Juba peace talks remain stalled, with the El Fasher siege strengthening the RSF’s negotiating leverage
- UN and ICC actions in the next three days could alter the security dynamics in North Darfur
What to Watch in the Next 24‑72 Hours: Indicators of Shifts on the Ground
In the immediate future, three developments will signal whether the situation in El Fasher is stabilizing or deteriorating. First, the United Nations‑backed Joint Assessment Mission is scheduled to return to North Darfur on May 2 to evaluate the humanitarian corridor’s functionality; any report of renewed RSF checkpoints or roadblocks will indicate a tightening of control. Second, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced on May 1 that a delegation of senior officers would meet with local tribal leaders in Kutum to negotiate safe‑passage for aid convoys; a signed agreement could ease the flow of food and medical supplies. Third, the International Criminal Court’s office in The Hague issued a statement on May 3 that it is reviewing new testimonies from El Fasher for potential war‑crimes investigations; a formal request for arrest warrants would raise the stakes for RSF commanders. Observers should also monitor statements from the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, which is expected to convene on May 4 to discuss sanctions against militia leaders. Any shift—whether a reduction in curfew hours, the reopening of the central market, or a sudden spike in armed clashes—will provide early clues about the trajectory of the conflict and the prospects for civilian relief.
HRW found that the RSF confiscated 3,200 metric tons of wheat from El Fasher’s central market, enough to feed roughly 250,000 people for a month – source: Human Rights Watch, "Takeover of North Darfur's Capital Marked by Wanton Abuses" (2024)
A year after the RSF’s violent takeover, El Fasher remains a city of broken storefronts, lingering trauma, and uncertain hope. Families like Ahmed Ali’s still count the days until aid trucks can pass safely, while survivors of sexual violence navigate a fragile path toward justice. The broader Sudanese conflict hangs in the balance, with each new report from Darfur reminding the world that peace is still a distant promise, not a guarantee. Yet the persistence of local leaders, humanitarian workers and international monitors offers a glimmer that accountability and relief may eventually arrive.
