At least 38 people were killed in a drone strike on the city of El-Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur, according to local activists. The attack, attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict that has devastated the region.
Local resistance committees reported that the RSF targeted the center of El-Fasher using high-explosive missiles. This follows an earlier attack on Friday on the city’s Saudi Hospital, which left nine dead and 20 injured, forcing medical staff to suspend operations.
The RSF, locked in a brutal conflict with Sudan’s military since April 2023, now controls most of Darfur, South Kordofan, and parts of central Sudan, while the army retains hold of the north and east. The conflict has caused widespread displacement, with over 11 million people forced from their homes and tens of thousands killed.
International rights groups have condemned both factions for civilian casualties, accusing the RSF of heinous acts in South Kordofan. Al Jazeera reported cases of sexual violence, including gang rape and sexual slavery, perpetrated by RSF fighters against women and girls as young as seven. Victims were often attacked in their homes or abducted and subjected to abuse in captivity.
One survivor, a 35-year-old woman, recounted being gang-raped by six RSF members who killed her husband and son when they tried to defend her. Another survivor, an 18-year-old, described being held for three months with dozens of others, enduring daily abuse.
The UN has described the sexual violence as an “epidemic,” calling for urgent international intervention. Despite reports of these atrocities, RSF leadership has not responded to inquiries from human rights organizations.
The conflict continues to fuel one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with mounting pressure on global leaders to address the escalating violence and protect vulnerable populations.