15 civilians killed by RSF while trying to flee

CAIRO - 4 August 2025: International and regional attention on the war in Sudan is escalating in an attempt to reach a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict, now in its third year. The war has claimed the lives of thousands of Sudanese citizens and displaced millions, especially with the drastically deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur and Kordofan.

The Darfur and Kordofan regions remain in a state of anticipation despite a relative calm in military operations. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia continues to impose a tight siege on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, which is suffering from extremely dire humanitarian conditions amidst a severe shortage of essential goods, placing the city at risk of famine.

In a continued display of RSF violence, elements of the militia shot and killed at least 15 civilians as they attempted to leave El Fasher.

Local sources revealed that at least 15 individuals were executed by RSF forces on Saturday morning while trying to reach the town of Qarni, west of El Fasher. Reports indicate that a number of youths were captured after being accused of supporting the army and the joint force.

Prominent leaders of the RSF and their allies had previously issued calls to evacuate El Fasher, deeming it an active conflict zone. The RSF and their allies designated the "Qarni" area, located at the western gate of El Fasher, as a gathering point for those coming from the North Darfur capital, from where they would later be transported to Korma and Tawila.

Mohamed Adam, spokesperson for the Sudan Liberation Movement (Minawi faction), stated that the calls by RSF allies to evacuate El Fasher were answered by a limited number of youths due to dire living conditions, but they were betrayed and brutally killed, according to Sudan Tribune.

He accused the RSF and their allies of misleading and lying to El Fasher residents through evacuation calls, with the aim of luring them to their inevitable fate of killing and mutilation. He urged young people to be patient and continue defending the city, and not to respond to calls to empty El Fasher of its residents.

He added: "Do not respond to the militias' calls. Their areas of control show clear signs of insecurity, where crimes of killing, abuse, and theft are committed. With such behavior, no one can live in their areas."

Previously, dozens of displaced people were subjected to severe violations by the RSF, including killing, looting, rape, and arbitrary arrest, while attempting to reach the town of Tawila.

The RSF has been trying to take control of El Fasher since May 11, 2024, continuously launching attacks on the city while tightening its siege, which has led to a widespread hunger crisis due to severe food shortages.

The North Darfur Human Rights Center issued a statement revealing that the RSF militia is holding dozens of women in at least two locations in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State.

The human rights monitor stated that "the RSF is detaining dozens of women at the Medical Supplies headquarters in southeast El Fasher, and at the New Sila Camp in the far northeast of the city."

The monitor confirmed that some of the detained women were forcibly married, while others became pregnant as a result of these violations. It clarified that the actual number of detainees remains unknown due to tight security and secrecy, according to Sudan Tribune.

The monitor demanded the immediate disclosure of the detainees' fate and assurance of their physical and psychological safety, calling on international and human rights organizations to take urgent action to address the situation, follow up on the detainees' file, investigate the matter, hold those responsible for these crimes accountable, and immediately release all detained women without any restrictions or conditions.

Several human rights and international organizations have accused the RSF militia of committing sexual violations against women during the bloody war in Sudan, which has entered its third year.

In a related context, the African Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union is preparing to hold an emergency session on the situation in Sudan on Monday. Sources within the African Union stated that the emergency session, chaired by Algeria, will discuss developments in Sudan, including the formation of a parallel government in Nyala, western Sudan.

Last week, the African Peace and Security Council condemned the RSF's declaration of forming a parallel government in Nyala and explicitly warned African countries against dealing with it.

The upcoming PSC session coincides with contacts made by Western officials last week with African Union officials regarding developments in Sudan, according to another source in the African Union, as reported by Sudan Tribune.

For his part, a Sudanese diplomatic source revealed that a delegation from the Sudanese government visited the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, last week. He stated that the delegation also held informal consultations with African Union officials and several meetings with the Sudanese diplomatic mission in the Ethiopian capital.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat (though the Arabic mentioned Ali Mahmoud Youssef in May, which might be a future appointment or a specific official), previously praised Sudan's step of appointing Kamel Idris as Prime Minister in May.