As tensions heighten in Sudan, recent satellite imagery has unveiled alarming evidence of mass killings in the city of el-Fasher, a significant location in the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab has pointed to these incidents as further manifestations of the devastating impacts of prolonged warfare and ethnic violence, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and intervention, especially following the latest military developments in the region.
The situation in Sudan’s el-Fasher has escalated dramatically following the takeover of the city by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has led to reports of mass killings as per analysis conducted by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL). The RSF has besieged el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, for an extended period of over a year and a half. This tumultuous period reached a critical juncture when Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced the withdrawal of his troops from the last remaining stronghold in the broader Darfur region. This announcement came shortly after the RSF declared victory by seizing control of a key Sudanese army base in el-Fasher.
The HRL report indicates that the fall of el-Fasher has led to a disturbing pattern of violence, including aerial bombardments across large areas of the city and resultant civilian casualties attributed to both conflicting sides. The region has endured nearly 15 months of IPC-5 famine conditions due to the RSF’s siege. The HRL employed satellite imagery, along with open-source data and remote sensing analysis from the latest developments on Monday, to reach these conclusions.
HRL’s findings suggest that el-Fasher is undergoing what may amount to ethnic cleansing of the Fur, Zaghawa, and Berti indigenous non-Arab populations through systematic displacement and summary executions. The RSF’s targeted actions against these communities align with longstanding allegations of ethnic discrimination and violence in Darfur, reinforcing earlier warnings from HRL and humanitarian organizations regarding the potential for mass violence coinciding with the RSF’s advance.
The satellite images reviewed by the HRL purportedly show clusters of objects and discolorations in the ground, interpreted as evidence of human remains, corroborating reports from aid agencies that have documented chaotic scenes of violence, arrests, and assaults on hospitals. The report articulates that these actions may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, with a chilling possibility of genocide.
The conflict that began on April 15, 2023, between the RSF and SAF continues to represent a catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the world, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and displacing over 12 million individuals. Concerns persist regarding the fragmentation of Sudan—a reminiscent fear of its split in the wake of the formation of South Sudan.
Currently, Darfur remains firmly under the influence of the RSF, while the SAF maintains control over the capital, Khartoum, along with the northern and eastern regions of the nation. This situation has unfolded in tandem with discussions held recently by the Quad—a coalition of nations consisting of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—which seeks to lay out a strategic roadmap aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
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