Sudan: The Situation in El Fasher – Spotlight Report Series

This report, part of Asylos’ Spotlight Report Series, examines the situation in El Fasher, Sudan, following its capture by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in October 2025.

After an 18-month siege, the RSF seized the city on October 26th, 2025, marking their control of all five Darfur state capitals. Sources indicate the takeover triggered mass atrocities, including systematic executions of civilians—particularly men separated by ethnicity—with death toll estimates ranging from 2,000 to potentially tens of thousands. Sources describe brutal violence including gang rapes, kidnappings for ransom, attacks on hospitals (including the massacre of over 460 patients at Saudi Maternity Hospital), and widespread torture. Some mention that these violations appear ethnically motivated, targeting non-Arab communities, and continued as civilians attempted to flee the city.

The crisis has caused massive displacement, with nearly 100,000 people fleeing El Fasher in the two weeks following its fall, though many remain trapped inside without access to food, water, or medical care. Three-quarters of those displaced had already been forced from their homes previously. Over 10,000 refugees have fled to Chad, while others sought safety in various Sudanese states or neighbouring countries. The RSF imposed a communications blackout and blocked humanitarian access, limiting information about ongoing conditions. Prior to the city’s capture, residents already faced famine conditions during the siege, with limited medical facilities and no aid allowed entry, resulting in thousands of deaths from malnutrition.

This report is part of Asylos’ Spotlight Report Series, a project which proactively meets COI needs and fills COI gaps, to increase access to high quality COI for people who need it.

The project enables members of the Asylos’ network to initiate COI research independently of external case-specific requests, commissioning reports on specific countries, topics, populations, or trends. These research requests will be informed and underpinned by data and intelligence gathered via our collective networks, collaborations and partnerships.

Do you have any comments or feedback on our research report? We would love to hear it! Email us at info@asylos.org 

Image credit: UNICEF