A United Nations independent fact-finding mission has concluded that the Rapid Support Forces’ capture of al-Fashir in Sudan displays clear hallmarks pointing to genocide against non-Arab ethnic communities. The report, released on February 19, 2026, details a pattern of coordinated atrocities during and after the paramilitary group’s takeover of the city in late October 2025.
Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, represented the last major stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces in the Darfur region before falling to the RSF. The mission documented mass killings, widespread rape, torture, and deliberate infliction of life conditions aimed at destroying non-Arab groups, particularly the Zaghawa and Fur peoples.
The findings describe an 18-month siege preceding the assault. During this period, the RSF imposed restrictions that the report says were calculated to bring about physical destruction of targeted communities living in displacement camps around the city.
Survivors reported explicit threats to “clean” the city of non-Arab residents. RSF fighters reportedly used phrases such as “Is there anyone Zaghawa among you? If we find Zaghawa, we will kill them all” during operations.
Coordinated Atrocities Mark RSF Al-Fashir Genocide Indicators
The UN mission identified a systematic pattern of ethnic, gender-based, and political targeting. Violations included point-blank executions of civilians, bodies left in streets, and attacks on communal kitchens, medical facilities, and displacement camps using drones and heavy weapons.
Women and girls from non-Arab communities, ranging in age from 7 to 70, faced rape and other forms of sexual violence. These acts often involved whipping, forced nudity, and public humiliation.
Looting, beatings, and destruction of property accompanied the killings. The report emphasizes that senior RSF leadership publicly endorsed and coordinated the operation, ruling out claims of random wartime excesses.
Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission Mohamad Chande Othman stated that the scale, organization, and leadership involvement demonstrate characteristics of genocide under international law. He highlighted exterminatory rhetoric as evidence of intent to destroy targeted groups in whole or in part.
Background of the Darfur Conflict
The current violence stems from fighting between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces that erupted in April 2023. Darfur has seen recurring cycles of ethnic conflict since the early 2000s, when similar accusations of genocide were leveled against government-backed militias.
Al-Fashir’s pre-siege population consisted mainly of Zaghawa residents, while surrounding displacement camps housed large numbers of Fur, along with Berti, Masalit, and Tama communities. These non-Arab groups have historically faced marginalization and violence in the region.
The RSF, originally formed from Janjaweed militias implicated in previous Darfur atrocities, has consistently denied committing abuses in the current conflict. The group has accused opponents of fabricating claims and pointed to alleged violations by the Sudanese Armed Forces.
Neither the RSF nor the Sudanese government provided responses to the UN mission’s requests for engagement or comment on the report. The Sudanese government also did not reply when the final draft was shared.
International Reactions to RSF Al-Fashir Genocide Findings
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the report’s findings as horrific. She condemned systematic starvation, torture, killings, rape, and ethnic targeting on a massive scale during the RSF siege.
Cooper called for an emphatic international response and urged an immediate ceasefire to halt further suffering.
The UN Human Rights Council mandated the fact-finding mission to investigate violations in and around al-Fashir urgently. Support from member states, including Britain, drove the establishment of the probe.
Humanitarian conditions in Darfur have deteriorated sharply since the conflict escalated. Millions face displacement, famine risks, and limited access to aid due to ongoing fighting and blockades.
Refugees from al-Fashir have fled to eastern Chad, where transit camps report overcrowding and strained resources. Images of Sudanese families gathering at sunset in these camps underscore the human toll of the violence.
Implications for Accountability and Peace Efforts
The UN report strengthens calls for accountability under international criminal law. It provides detailed evidence that could support future prosecutions for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Experts note that proving genocidal intent requires demonstrating specific aim to destroy protected groups. The mission’s documentation of coordinated targeting, public rhetoric, and leadership endorsement addresses this threshold.
Peace negotiations between the warring parties remain stalled. Previous ceasefires have collapsed quickly, allowing continued abuses.
The international community faces pressure to respond decisively. Options include expanded sanctions, arms embargoes, and support for humanitarian corridors.
As evidence mounts of systematic ethnic violence, attention turns to preventing further escalation in Darfur and across Sudan. The RSF al-Fashir genocide findings serve as a stark warning of the conflict’s trajectory without meaningful intervention.
Continued monitoring and documentation will prove essential. The UN mission’s work highlights the urgent need for protection of civilian populations caught in the crossfire.
