🔗 Share this article

Per the UN refugee agency, in excess of 60,000 civilians have fled the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF recently.

Reports indicate multiple executions and atrocities as militia members took control of the city after an extended blockade marked by starvation and sustained attacks.

The flow of those running from the fighting towards the community of Tawila, roughly 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the recent days, according to United Nations refugee agency spokesperson.

Survivors were telling shocking stories of atrocities, including sexual violence, and the agency was having trouble to locate sufficient shelter and nourishment for them.

All children was suffering from malnutrition, she added.

Estimates suggest that over 150,000 people are currently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the military's final bastion in the western region of Darfur.

The Rapid Support Forces has denied widespread allegations that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and mirror a trend of the Arab militia groups targeting non-Arab communities.

Nevertheless the RSF has arrested one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in on-the-spot executions.

The force released footage showing the militiaman's detention subsequent to identification that he was involved in the killing of multiple civilians near el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has verified that it has removed the profile associated with Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had operated the profile in his identity.

Sudan was thrown into a internal conflict in April 2023 when a vicious power struggle began between its military and the Rapid Support Forces.

It has resulted in a food crisis and accusations of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.

Over 150,000 persons have died in the fighting throughout the country, and about 12 million have abandoned their dwellings in what the United Nations has described as the most extensive humanitarian crisis.

The seizure of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in command of the western region and significant areas of bordering Kordofan to the south, and the army controlling the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the Red Sea.

The opposing sides had been collaborators - coming to power together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported proposal to transition to civilian rule.