Fresh allegations have emerged suggesting that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) may be attempting to conceal evidence of mass civilian killings in el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, following its capture in late October 2025. The claims are based on new findings by independent researchers using satellite imagery and open-source intelligence.
According to analysts, patterns observed from space indicate deliberate efforts to remove or obscure human remains in multiple locations across and around the city. These actions, researchers say, may constitute an attempt to hide the scale of violence that unfolded after the RSF took control of the long-besieged city.
The findings were compiled by conflict monitoring experts, including researchers affiliated with Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, who examined high-resolution satellite imagery captured before and after the RSF takeover. Their analysis identified numerous clusters consistent with human remains and disturbed ground, many of which later diminished or disappeared entirely.
Experts argue that such changes are unlikely to be caused by natural factors, pointing instead to intentional burial, burning, or relocation of bodies. Several suspected sites were located outside urban areas, suggesting civilians may have been targeted while attempting to flee the violence.
El-Fasher had endured an extended siege for more than a year before its fall, during which residents faced severe shortages of food, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance. When fighting intensified in October, local medical networks reported widespread civilian casualties, with estimates ranging from hundreds to potentially thousands killed in a matter of days.
Following the RSF’s seizure of the city, communication networks deteriorated rapidly, further complicating independent verification. Journalists and aid workers have faced extreme access restrictions, while local witnesses report intimidation and reprisals against those attempting to document abuses.
Human rights organizations and humanitarian agencies have expressed deep concern over the allegations, warning that efforts to conceal evidence could obstruct future accountability processes. If substantiated, such actions may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity under international law.
The situation in el-Fasher forms part of Sudan’s wider conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, a war that has triggered one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises. Millions have been displaced, and civilian infrastructure across Darfur and beyond has been devastated.
Researchers and advocacy groups are urging the international community to act swiftly to preserve evidence, expand satellite monitoring, and support independent investigations. They stress that accountability depends not only on documenting violence but also on preventing attempts to erase its traces.
As Sudan’s conflict continues with devastating consequences for civilians, el-Fasher stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for transparency, protection of civilians, and international engagement to ensure that alleged atrocities do not go unexamined or unanswered.
