Sudan: RSF Fighters Detained Over Reported Atrocities

After the capture of El-Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces detained several fighters amid reports of mass killings. One detainee, “Abu Lulu,” was seen executing civilians in verified videos. Survivors describe children shot in front of parents and widespread beatings, while the city remains cut off from communications.

Following a wave of international condemnation over apparent atrocities during the capture of El-Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced that they had detained several of their own fighters. The announcement comes amid growing outrage over graphic evidence emerging from the city, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing conflict in the region.

Since the RSF seized El-Fasher over the weekend, numerous highly disturbing videos have surfaced, apparently documenting mass executions and other grave crimes carried out by RSF forces. These videos, shared widely on social media and verified by independent agencies, have shocked both local populations and international observers, painting a grim picture of the aftermath of the city’s fall.

Among the detained fighters is reportedly a man known as "Abu Lulu," who has been identified in multiple videos circulating online. According to the French AFP news agency, he has been filmed executing unarmed individuals in cold blood. AFP confirmed the authenticity of a clip showing Abu Lulu shooting unarmed men at close range, as well as another video depicting him standing amid dozens of corpses and burned vehicles, highlighting the scale of the violence that took place. The RSF subsequently released footage purportedly showing Abu Lulu behind bars, claiming that he is being held in a prison in North Darfur, though independent verification of this detention remains limited.

The Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), a non-governmental organization that monitors human rights violations, has confirmed the presence of at least six RSF fighters in the available footage, including Abu Lulu. The organization reported that its analysis of the videos emerging from El-Fasher corroborates claims that mass killings are occurring. CIR also noted that the casualties likely include both combatants and civilians, with women and men in civilian clothing among those killed, emphasizing the indiscriminate nature of the attacks.

El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, was the last stronghold of the Sudanese army in the region during a war with the RSF that began in April 2023. This conflict has resulted in one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving countless others in urgent need of assistance. After an 18-month siege characterized by severe food shortages, heavy bombardment, and widespread destruction, the city fell to RSF forces, marking a significant and tragic turning point in the conflict.

Following the capture of El-Fasher, reports and videos began to circulate detailing alleged atrocities committed by RSF fighters. Survivors who managed to flee the city described horrifying scenes, including mass killings, children being shot in front of their parents, and widespread beatings and robberies targeting civilians attempting to escape. Since the takeover, El-Fasher has been completely cut off from communications, making it difficult to independently verify reports and assess the full extent of the human toll. However, the accounts from those who reached nearby towns, combined with the graphic footage now widely available, have drawn renewed calls for international intervention and accountability.

The unfolding situation in El-Fasher underscores the continuing dangers faced by civilians in conflict zones and the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and protection. The reported detentions of RSF fighters, including Abu Lulu, represent a rare acknowledgment of responsibility amid a conflict that has largely seen impunity for violent acts. Observers and human rights organizations continue to monitor the situation closely, as the international community seeks to respond to what many describe as one of the gravest crises in recent Sudanese history.