• UN report indicates RSF actions in El-Fasher exhibit "hallmarks of genocide".
• Findings highlight systematic targeting of Zaghawa and Fur ethnic groups during the siege.
• Amid calls for accountability, international response to the atrocities remains urgent.

A United Nations investigation has determined that actions carried out by Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their takeover of the city of El-Fasher exhibit significant evidence of genocide. The siege, lasting 18 months prior to RSF's capture of the city in late October 2025, created conditions that led to mass killings, sexual violence, and other atrocities directed towards non-Arab communities, particularly the Zaghawa and Fur, according to the findings of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan. The report noted, "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," emphasizing the calculated nature of the RSF's campaign against these communities, as documented by BBC, Africanews, and Al Jazeera.

The investigation details a pattern of abuses, including systematic rape, torture, and enforced disappearances, all targeted against specific ethnic groups, reinforcing a systematic campaign of violence aimed at their physical destruction. The report highlighted comments from survivors describing explicit threats from RSF fighters, who stated intentions to "clean" El-Fasher of non-Arabs, revealing the genocidal mindset prevalent among the perpetrators. "Witnesses heard the Rapid Support Forces saying, 'Is there anyone Zaghawa among you? If we find Zaghawa, we will kill them all,'" indicating a clear intent to target based on ethnic identity, as per the findings reported by Middle East Eye, Anadolu Agency, and Reuters.

During the three-day assault following the RSF's siege, investigators cite that tens of thousands were killed or went missing, with sexual violence reported against women and girls aged seven to seventy. These atrocities have sparked widespread international condemnation and calls for urgent action to hold the RSF accountable. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the evidence as "truly horrific," underscoring the need for an international response to bring those responsible to justice and to advocate for humanitarian interventions, according to Middle East Eye, BBC, and Africanews.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 as a power struggle between the regular armed forces and the RSF, has resulted in widespread displacement and suffering. More than 13 million people have fled their homes, and urgent humanitarian assistance is desperately needed. Investigators have emphasized that without preventive measures and accountability for these acts, the risk of further genocidal actions remains high, building on recommendations made by Al Jazeera, Reuters, and Africanews.