Satellite imagery and classified intelligence have unearthed alarming evidence of a large-scale massacre and deliberate concealment of casualties in El Fasher, Sudan, subsequent to its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). With the city now inaccessible to independent investigators, analysts are expressing grave concerns regarding the catastrophic human toll. They cite the disappearance of as many as 150,000 residents and the systematic disposal of bodies in a network of burial pits. These events represent a devastating escalation in Sudan’s protracted conflict, transforming the regional capital into what researchers are characterizing as an extensive crime scene.

The ongoing conflict, which commenced in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, reached a critical turning point roughly six weeks ago when the paramilitary group seized control of El Fasher. This city, once a thriving center for over 1.5 million inhabitants, has since been subjected to an information blackout. United Nations war crimes investigators have been repeatedly prevented from entering the affected area, compelling external observers to rely on remote sensing and intelligence reports to ascertain the grim reality.

Analysis by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab has revealed a disturbing scenario within the besieged city. Imagery suggests a coordinated operation to dispose of human remains, featuring recently excavated pits likely used for interment and incineration. Furthermore, numerous corpses have reportedly been gathered into piles across El Fasher’s main thoroughfares. The city’s social infrastructure and economic activities have completely disintegrated; markets now stand deserted and are being overgrown by vegetation, while all livestock has been removed, painting a stark picture of widespread devastation.

The sheer magnitude of the violence appears truly staggering. British parliamentarians, including Sarah Champion, received private briefings estimating the carnage conservatively. Champion stated, “Our low estimate is 60,000 people have been killed there in the last three weeks.” The whereabouts of up to 150,000 residents, who are not believed to have escaped, remain unknown, intensifying fears that the final death toll is being deliberately obscured. Nathaniel Raymond of the Yale lab offered a grim assessment, remarking, “It’s beginning to look a lot like a slaughterhouse.” These actions have profound implications, significantly impeding avenues for accountability and justice.