UN: Over 6,000 Killed in Three Days of Sudan’s El-Fasher Siege
February 14, 2026
More than 6,000 people died in three days when Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took over the city of El-Fasher last year, a United Nations report said. Witnesses described scenes from what one called "a horror movie," with RSF fighters shooting at about 1,000 people sheltering in a university. The report details mass killings, summary executions, torture, abductions, and sexual violence against civilians. These actions are listed as war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. The RSF has not responded to this latest report but has denied similar claims before. Sudan is locked in a nearly three-year civil war between the regular army and the RSF. The fighting has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced over 13 million people. Sexual violence is used as a weapon against men, women, and children. Both RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces face accusations of atrocities. The US and Human Rights Watch label the RSF's actions in Darfur as genocide against non-Arab communities, though recent UN reports stop short of this label. El-Fasher, a vital city in Darfur, was under siege for 18 months and became a focal point of the conflict's horrors. Over 140 victims and witnesses gave testimony in Sudan and Chad in 2025. During the first days of the RSF attack, the UN reported at least 4,400 killed inside El-Fasher, and over 1,600 along escape routes. The death toll is likely much higher. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urged all parties to stop grave violations by their forces. International pressure is rising, with the UK recently sanctioning six key figures linked to fueling Sudan’s war, including RSF and army commanders and foreigners recruiting mercenaries. The UK denies arms sales to the RSF, stressing strict export controls. Meanwhile, a coalition connected to the RSF launched plans for a rival Sudanese government in the west, rejected by the African Union for risking peace. The conflict’s toll continues to devastate Sudan’s people and region.
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Tags:
Sudan
Rapid Support Forces
War crimes
Un report
El-Fasher
Civil War
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