UN Security Council denounces rebel capture of Sudanese city
The UN Security Council has condemned an assault by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of Al-Fashir in Sudan’s North Darfur, saying it threatens large-scale atrocities.
On Thursday, the Security Council “condemned reported atrocities being perpetrated by the RSF against the civilian population, including summary executions and arbitrary detentions” in and around Al-Fashir.
In its statement, the council recalled Resolution 2736 (2024), which demands that the RSF lift the siege of Al-Fashir and calls for de-escalation in the area.
Council members urged the RSF to implement the provisions of the resolution and called for all perpetrators of violations to be held accountable.
The statement also called on all parties to the conflict to “allow and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access in a manner consistent with international law” and to protect civilians attempting to flee Al-Fashir.
According to the UN, “over 90% of children lack access to education and over 24 million people – 40% of the population – lack sufficient food” in the region.
“The Sudan crisis is, at its core, a failure of protection, and our responsibility to uphold international law,” Tom Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said. He also announced $20 million in new UN funding for the states of Darfur and Kordofan.
The RSF announced on Sunday that it had taken full control of Al‑Fashir. A spokesperson for the group also said it had taken complete control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Sixth Infantry Division command.
Sudan descended into chaos in April 2023 when fighting erupted between the national army (Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This occurred after months of tension between their commanders, army generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemedti’, respectively, over a planned transition to civilian rule. What began in the capital, Khartoum, as a power struggle has devastated the country, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.
Regional and international peace efforts, including African Union mediation and Saudi–US talks in Jeddah, have repeatedly stalled. Sudanese officials have named Colombians and Ukrainians among mercenaries backing the RSF against the army. Officials have also accused Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates of involvement and recently claimed the European Union has an “incomplete understanding of the complex situation” in the country.
Khartoum has also accused authorities in neighboring Kenya of backing the RSF and has broken ties with the East African grouping IGAD amid mistrust of regional mediation. In July, TASIS, a political coalition aligned with the paramilitary, announced the formation of a rival government months after its members signed a charter in Nairobi. It named Gen. Dagalo as chairman of a 15-member presidential council, a move rejected by the UN and AU.
The number of civilians killed during the attack by the RSF in the city on October 26-27 may exceed 2,000, according to news agency Akhbar al‑Asr, citing the Sudanese Doctors’ Union. The RSF has demanded a $1 million ransom for six kidnapped healthcare workers, the Sudan Doctors’ Network has stated.
RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo admitted that his forces committed “some violations” during the capture of Al-Fashir. In a video statement, he said a committee had been formed to investigate the abuses and promised public trials for those responsible.
