Survivors Detail Atrocities in Sudanese City After Paramilitary Assault

Survivors of a late October paramilitary assault on el-Fasher, Sudan, have described scenes of mass killing and abuse to Le Monde. The city is the capital of North Darfur state. Witnesses say fighters from the Rapid Support Forces carried out summary executions. "The RSF killed people point-blank in their homes," one survivor reported. The RSF is a powerful paramilitary group. Its takeover of the city followed intense battles with the Sudanese national army. Beyond the killings, survivors allege widespread rape and large-scale human trafficking by the RSF. They also accuse the forces of attempting to cover up the crimes committed during the operation. The assault on el-Fasher is a major escalation in Sudan's ongoing civil war. The conflict has created a severe humanitarian crisis across the country.