Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has called for urgent international action after credible reports emerged of atrocities, executions and mass killings of civilians in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group accused of widespread abuses, declared on 26th October that they had taken control of El Fasher after months of intense fighting.
Two days later, Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan confirmed that government troops had withdrawn from the city.
In the hours that followed, communications were cut off, leaving families across Sudan and the diaspora unable to reach loved ones trapped in the city. Videos, photos and audio recordings shared online have since shown evidence of summary executions, mass graves, and RSF fighters targeting women and girls.
Sarah, CSW’s Sudan advocacy officer, whose name has been changed for safety, told Premier Christian News that the humanitarian situation was already “appalling” before the fall of the city.
“This is a really difficult moment for the people of El Fasher and for the people of Sudan,” she said.
“The city has been under siege for about 550 days, and over the weekend the RSF declared they had taken it. The humanitarian situation was already appalling, with aid blockades and attacks on hospitals and churches. Now, civilians are facing unimaginable violence”, she added.
Sarah said that CSW had documented attacks on civilian infrastructure and credible evidence of the recruitment of children by RSF fighters. “It’s really difficult when you’re seeing images of young boys, maybe 11, firing guns,” she said. “It’s just awful, and it does need to stop. Holding these perpetrators, these military leaders, to account is the starting point”.
CSW’s founder president, Mervyn Thomas, described the images emerging from the city as “horrific”, warning that RSF fighters appeared to act “with impunity”, recording themselves committing what he said, “may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
He also called for urgent protection for civilians fleeing to Tawila, around 50 kilometres away, and for “unhindered humanitarian access” to the region.
Sarah told Premier Christian News that beyond prayer and awareness, global political action was essential: “We need our political leaders, including our government and the UN Security Council, to come together and hold these actors to account. The UK is the penholder for Sudan at the Security Council; it has a vital role to play”.
“People are grieving, unable to reach family or friends in El Fasher. As Christians, we can stand in solidarity pray, share what’s happening, and urge our leaders to act”.