The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, has been accused of committing mass executions and atrocities in the city of el-Fasher, which it recently seized. Satellite images and video evidence reveal widespread bloodshed, with experts likening the situation to the Rwandan genocide. This massacre is the latest in a brutal civil war between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which has displaced over 13 million people since April 2023. Both factions have been accused of war crimes, including indiscriminate bombings, sexual violence, and torture. The RSF is reportedly backed by the UAE, which has been accused of complicity in genocide at the International Court of Justice. Sudan’s history of conflict dates back to its independence in 1956, with decades of instability under Omar al-Bashir’s regime. The current war began in April 2023, fueled by tensions over integrating the RSF into the national army. The conflict has left thousands dead and nearly 25 million facing acute food insecurity. The UAE’s involvement includes supplying weapons and financial support to the RSF, despite international arms embargoes. The UAE’s strategic interests in Sudan’s agricultural and mineral resources, particularly gold, have driven its intervention. International responses have been slow, with the ICJ dismissing Sudan’s case against the UAE due to jurisdictional issues. The UK and other nations have been criticized for their ambiguous stance on the conflict. A recent peace plan proposed by the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE offers a temporary truce, but the RSF’s establishment of a parallel government complicates efforts. The situation remains dire, with no end to the humanitarian crisis in sight.
