Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of executions.
Fighters from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have executed a number of unarmed people after capturing the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, new videos analysed by BBC Verify show.
The RSF, which has engaged in a brutal war with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for more than two years, seized a key military base in the city over the weekend after an extended siege.
Several videos have since emerged showing men wearing military fatigues and some with what appear to be RSF patches carrying out extreme acts of violence around el-Fasher. The UN's Sudan coordinator stated there have been credible reports of summary executions in the city during an interview with the BBC.
BBC Verify has reached out to the RSF for comment. Imran Abdullah, an advisor to the paramilitary, denied that RSF fighters were targeting civilians during an interview with the BBC.
Sudan has been ravaged by war since the conflict began in 2023, which resulted from the collapse of the SAF and the fragile ruling coalition with the RSF. Over 150,000 people have died across the country, and about 12 million have been displaced.
Denise Brown, the UN coordinator for Sudan, relayed reports of unarmed men being targeted specifically since the RSF entered el-Fasher. Such actions are categorized as war crimes under international law.
Videos reviewed by BBC Verify depict the summary execution of captured unarmed individuals, with one clip showing a man fatally shot while surrounded by dead bodies at a university building. Additional footage captures unarmed men under threat being executed by RSF fighters, one identified as Abu Lulu, who has long been associated with RSF activities on social media.
The conflict has escalated, leading to the RSF’s new control of nearly all of Darfur and ongoing reports of ethnically motivated violence, raising concerns that the situation could worsen as both sides face accusations of war crimes.
The recent capture of el-Fasher, the last major urban center in Darfur held by government forces, signals a shift in power dynamics, prompting fears of further violence and human rights violations in the region.
The grim findings from reports and satellite images corroborate the testimonies from human rights groups about the massacres taking place, highlighting the urgent need for international attention to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
