🔗 Share this article

According to the United Nations refugee organization, in excess of 60,000 individuals have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was seized by the militia Rapid Support Forces during the weekend.

There have been multiple executions and human rights violations as RSF fighters stormed the city following an year-and-a-half blockade featuring famine and heavy bombardment.

The movement of those fleeing the conflict towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the recent days, according to UNHCR spokesperson.

They were telling terrible stories of violence, such as rape, and the agency was having trouble to secure adequate accommodation and supplies for them.

Each child was affected by nutritional deficiencies, she added.

Estimates suggest that over 150,000 residents are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the military's remaining fortress in the western region of Darfur.

The RSF has denied broad accusations that the deaths in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and mirror a pattern of the Arab paramilitaries attacking non-Arab communities.

Nevertheless the RSF has detained one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with on-the-spot executions.

The group distributed footage depicting the member's detention subsequent to identification that he was behind the killing of numerous civilians close to el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has confirmed that it has suspended the profile associated with Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had controlled the account in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a internal conflict in April 2023 following a brutal power struggle began between its army and the Rapid Support Forces.

It has caused a food crisis and claims of genocide in the western Darfur region.

Over 150,000 persons have lost their lives in the fighting throughout the country, and about 12 million have fled their dwellings in what the UN has called the most extensive humanitarian emergency.

The seizure of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in dominance of Sudan's west and a large portion of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military controlling the main city, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the Red Sea.

The two warring rivals had been collaborators - taking over together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an globally supported proposal to move towards civilian rule.