A United Nations fact-finding mission has reported that the recent capture of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias exhibited "the hallmarks of genocide." The comprehensive report, released this week, details an 18-month occupation during which the RSF allegedly imposed conditions specifically designed to destroy the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic communities. This grave development occurred concurrently with Sudan's government fiercely denouncing Uganda for hosting RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. Khartoum has described this act as a clear contravention of international law and norms.
The protracted conflict, now entering its second year, has intensified significantly, involving regional players and eliciting profound international concern. Chaired by Mohamed Chande Othman, the UN mission meticulously documented the RSF's actions, concluding that the "scale, coordination, and public endorsement of the operation by senior RSF leadership demonstrate that the crimes committed in and around El Fasher were not random excesses of war." These findings significantly bolster existing accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity, previously levied against the RSF by countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union. The RSF, which originated from the Janjaweed militias notorious for past atrocities, has been engaged in a fierce power struggle with the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023.
Adding to the extensive violence, a new series of drone strikes has devastated Sudan’s Kordofan region. Unicef reported a particularly tragic incident in West Kordofan, where at least 15 children were killed in a drone attack targeting a camp for displaced persons. Local rights defenders have also reported a devastating strike on a market in North Kordofan, resulting in 28 fatalities. While the Sudanese army is implicated in the West Kordofan strike, the RSF is accused of orchestrating the attack on the North Kordofan market. These aerial assaults highlight the pervasive nature of the violence and its devastating impact on civilian populations already suffering from the broader civil war, which has displaced over 13 million people and led to widespread famine.
The diplomatic repercussions of Hemedti’s visit to Uganda have been swift and severe. Sudan's foreign ministry issued a strong statement on Sunday, asserting that the Ugandan government's reception of the "rebel leader" constituted a flagrant violation of international law. President Yoweri Museveni’s meeting with Dagalo has been interpreted by Khartoum as tacit approval of a commander whose forces are implicated in widespread human rights abuses. The Sudanese government’s condemnation underscores the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape surrounding the conflict, with regional powers often positioned on opposing sides of diplomatic and military divides. The UN's findings of potential genocidal intent in El Fasher, coupled with ongoing civilian casualties, paint a grim picture of a nation in crisis.