Amnesty Report Finds Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan: Key Insights

New Delhi, India Jul 7, 2026 ALN: In a report titled ‘City Under Siege, Children Under Fire: Rapid Support Forces’ Crimes Against Humanity in North Darfur’ released on July 1, Amnesty International has concluded that the Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has committed "crimes against humanity and carried out ethnic cleansing" during its campaign to seize El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. This alarming assessment comes amid a backdrop of escalating violence in Sudan, which has seen a resurgence of conflict since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. The conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions, as reported by the United Nations.

To understand the implications of this report, it is essential to examine the historical context of the conflict in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region. The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when rebel groups took up arms against the Sudanese government, accusing it of oppressing non-Arab populations. The government responded with a brutal campaign involving the Janjaweed militia, which has since evolved into the RSF. This history of violence and ethnic tension has set the stage for the current crisis, where the RSF has emerged as a significant power player amid the chaos.

What is the Report?

The Amnesty report meticulously documents a range of abuses against civilians in and around El Fasher from early 2024 to October 2025, as the RSF engaged in combat with the SAF and allied forces. The report outlines a grim picture of widespread human rights violations, including murder, forcible transfer of populations, imprisonment, torture, rape, sexual slavery, and extermination. These actions are not isolated incidents but rather part of a systematic campaign against specific ethnic groups, primarily targeting non-Arab communities such as the Zaghawa.

The investigation, conducted over eight months from August 2025 to April 2026, involved interviews with 247 individuals, including 208 survivors (169 adults and 39 children) who experienced or witnessed conflict-related abuses. Amnesty International also verified 89 videos and analyzed satellite imagery from North Darfur to substantiate its findings. This comprehensive approach underscores the gravity of the situation and the extensive nature of the RSF's operations.

What Does It Say?

Amnesty International's findings lead to a stark conclusion: the RSF's actions constitute crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during its campaign to seize El Fasher. By November 2023, the RSF had taken control of four of Darfur’s five state capitals, leaving El Fasher as the last major stronghold of the SAF and allied forces. The RSF's strategy involved systematically attacking villages, towns, and displacement camps surrounding the city, with a focus on civilian populations. This strategy included looting property, destroying civilian infrastructure, and instilling fear among the local populace.

The report highlights a particularly destructive pattern in the Abu Zerega area, primarily populated by Zaghawa communities, between December 2024 and March 2025. The documented attacks during this period align with the definition of ethnic cleansing, as they were aimed at displacing and terrorizing the local population. The RSF's ongoing control of these areas has effectively prevented displaced populations from returning, further entrenching the humanitarian crisis.

Moreover, the report reveals the use of derogatory terms such as ‘falangay’ (or ‘falangayat’ in plural), which refers to slavery or servitude, during attacks on civilians from non-Arab ethnic groups. This language not only reflects the dehumanization of these communities but also indicates a broader pattern of persecution based on ethnic identity.

The RSF's siege of El Fasher from May 2024 to October 2025 exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, as the group restricted food and humanitarian aid while subjecting the city to near-daily shelling. As famine spread, many residents resorted to consuming ambaz, a by-product of peanut oil production typically intended for animal feed, highlighting the dire conditions faced by civilians. The report details harrowing accounts of pregnant women giving birth while fleeing attacks, underscoring the severe impact of the conflict on vulnerable populations.

Attempts by civilians to escape toward Tawila were met with brutal resistance from the RSF, which made such movements nearly impossible. By October 2025, El Fasher was surrounded by a 57-km network of earthen berms that restricted civilian movement. Witnesses reported that RSF fighters intercepted fleeing civilians, with many suffering execution or torture at the hands of their captors.

Amnesty International's investigation also included testimonies from individuals present at the Saudi Maternity Hospital, El Fasher’s last functioning hospital, where RSF fighters reportedly killed numerous people. This incident highlights the targeted violence against medical facilities and personnel, further complicating the humanitarian situation in the region.

Additionally, the report documents widespread rape and other forms of conflict-related sexual violence, as well as unlawful detentions of civilians. Many were held hostage for ransom under inhumane conditions, and reports indicate that boys were recruited and used in combat, violating international law. These findings paint a picture of a conflict where human rights are systematically violated, and the most vulnerable, particularly women and children, bear the brunt of the violence.

Amnesty International has identified three RSF commanders allegedly responsible for serious violations of international law: Maj. Gen. Gedo Hamdan Ahmed Mohamed, known as ‘Abu Shouk’; Lt. Col. Abbas Khater Bakhit; and commander Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, also known as ‘Abu Lulu’. These allegations are supported by witness testimony and verified videos showing acts of torture and summary executions, raising critical questions about accountability for those responsible for such egregious acts.

What Are the Recommendations?

In light of these findings, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, has called on the international community to move beyond mere statements of concern and take concrete actions to protect civilians and end impunity. This call to action emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinated international response to the crisis in Sudan.

Callamard urged Sudan’s international partners to ensure that humanitarian aid, particularly child-focused services, reaches refugees and internally displaced people. The report highlights the critical need for immediate assistance to those affected by the conflict, as well as the importance of addressing the needs of children who are disproportionately affected by the violence.

Furthermore, the report calls on all countries to immediately halt the supply of arms and ammunition to parties involved in the Sudan conflict. It specifically urges states to stop providing arms to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), identified as the RSF’s principal foreign backer, until it complies with the UN arms embargo. This recommendation underscores the interconnectedness of international arms trade and the perpetuation of violence in conflict zones, highlighting the responsibility of external actors in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The implications of Amnesty International's findings are profound, as they not only document the scale of human rights violations occurring in Sudan but also call for urgent action from the global community. The report serves as a crucial reminder of the need for accountability and the protection of civilians in conflict, emphasizing that the international community must act decisively to prevent further atrocities and support those affected by the ongoing violence.