Sudan RSF Arrests Fighters Over El-Fasher Civilian Killings Amid UN Atrocity Warnings

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have announced the arrest of several fighters, including a commander known as Abu Lulu, amid widespread reports of mass executions and atrocities during their recent capture of El-Fasher in North Darfur. Graphic videos, verified by human rights organizations, show RSF members executing unarmed civilians, sparking international condemnation and calls for investigations by the United Nations. Despite the RSF's detention of Abu Lulu and promises of fair trials, many Sudanese citizens and human rights activists view these arrests as a public relations stunt aimed at deflecting responsibility from the group’s broader pattern of violence, including sexual violence and widespread civilian casualties. The UN has expressed alarm over credible reports of summary executions, gang rapes, and abductions, with the death toll potentially reaching hundreds or more. Activists emphasize systemic issues within the RSF, which originated from ethnic militias, arguing that accountability cannot be achieved through isolated arrests. The continuing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Darfur remain dire, with El-Fasher cut off from communications and survivors recounting harrowing experiences of violence and starvation.