 Amnesty International reports RSF committed war crimes in El-Fasher, citing executions and rapes, and alleges UAE facilitated the atrocities
PORT SUDAN: Amnesty International has accused Sudanese paramilitaries of committing war crimes in the Darfur town of El-Fasher.
The rights group said the United Arab Emirates had “facilitated” the actions of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The UAE has consistently denied backing the RSF, which has been fighting Sudan’s regular army since April 2023.
The conflict pits General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s regular forces against the RSF led by his former deputy Mohamed Daglo.
RSF seized El-Fasher at the end of October, the last major Darfur city outside their control.
The paramilitary group announced a unilateral three-month ceasefire on Monday.
Amnesty collected testimonies from 28 survivors describing atrocities in El-Fasher.
These included summary executions of unarmed men and rape of girls and women.
“This persistent, widespread violence against civilians constitutes war crimes,” said Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard.
“All those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.”
Callamard stated “these atrocities were facilitated by the United Arab Emirates’ support for the RSF.”
She called on the international community to “demand that the UAE disengages from supporting the RSF.”
The UAE has been widely accused of supplying the RSF with weapons, manpower and fuel.
Abu Dhabi consistently rejects such charges despite evidence in UN reports.
One survivor told Amnesty she and her 14-year-old daughter were raped by RSF fighters while fleeing.
Her daughter became very ill and died in a clinic in the refugee town of Tawila.
Another survivor said RSF forces killed people “like flies” with none being armed soldiers.
“As the conflict continues, the survivors’ stories provide further proof of the international community’s failure in Sudan,” Callamard said.
Mediation has so far failed to end the fighting as both sides seek military gains.
On Sunday, Burhan rejected a US truce proposal from the Quad mediators as “the worst yet.”
The Quad group comprises the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
On Monday, the UAE accused Burhan of “consistently obstructive behaviour.”
The RSF later declared a unilateral three-month ceasefire citing international efforts. – AFP
