More than 60,000 Run from Sudanese City In the wake of Capture by RSF Paramilitary Group, UN Says

Refugees escaping violence in the region
Many seek to reach the settlement of Tawila but encounter harassment, extortion and abuse from armed men along the way

Per the UN refugee agency, over 60,000 people have escaped the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces recently.

Reports indicate mass executions and human rights violations as paramilitary forces took control of the city after an extended encirclement featuring food shortages and heavy bombardment.

The movement of those escaping the violence towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the last several days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.

They were narrating horrendous tales of violence, featuring rape, and the humanitarian group was finding it difficult to secure sufficient housing and supplies for them.

Every child was suffering from malnutrition, she commented.

Calculations indicate that more than 150,000 people are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's final stronghold in the western part of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has disputed extensive claims that the killings in el-Fasher are ethnically motivated and resemble a pattern of the Arab fighters focusing on ethnic minorities.

However the paramilitary group has detained one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with extrajudicial killings.

The group released footage revealing the member's detention after confirmation that he was behind the killing of numerous non-combatants near el-Fasher.

Digital platform has acknowledged that it has removed the profile associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had operated the account in his name.

Sudan was entered a civil war in April 2023 when a vicious struggle for power broke out between its military and the RSF.

The conflict has resulted in a famine and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Darfur region.

Over 150,000 people have lost their lives in the conflict around the country, and approximately 12 million have abandoned their dwellings in what the United Nations has called the most extensive humanitarian emergency.

The capture of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the RSF now in dominance of western Sudan and a large portion of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the army controlling the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.

The competing factions had been allies - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but fell out over an foreign-endorsed plan to advance to civilian rule.

Lisa Mccarthy
Lisa Mccarthy

A seasoned gaming journalist with over a decade of experience covering casino trends and slot machine strategies.