RSF Leader Initiates Investigation Amid Rising Outrage Over El-Fasher Killings

Fri Oct 31 2025 15:39:27 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of widespread reports of civilian deaths in El-Fasher, Sudan's RSF commander, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, pledges accountability for his troops, as international condemnation mounts over the violence.

The commander of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has promised an investigation into alleged atrocities committed by his fighters during their recent takeover of El-Fasher. Reports of mass civilian killings have fueled a wave of international criticism, with the UN calling for accountability and humanitarian aid access. While the RSF released a video claiming to show an arrest related to the violence, skepticism remains about their commitment to protecting civilians amid ongoing conflict in the region.

The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has declared an investigation into what he called violations committed by his soldiers during the capture of el-Fasher.

The announcement by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, came after escalating reports of civilian killings following the RSF takeover of the city in the Darfur region on Sunday.

He spoke after international outrage about reports of mass killings in el-Fasher, apparently documented by his paramilitary fighters in social media videos.

The RSF has since released footage which they say shows the arrest of a fighter accused of carrying out executions in el-Fasher.

Footage verified by BBC Verify showed the arrested individual, known online as Abu Lulu, shooting unarmed people in an area outside el-Fasher. The video, reportedly filmed at Shala Prison, displayed RSF fighters escorting the man into a cell.

Despite Dagalo's assurance that his forces will protect civilians, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher emphasized the contradiction between the RSF's promises and appalling reports from the region. Fletcher insisted on the need for accountability for those responsible for the killings and stressed the grave humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Earlier British Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty highlighted the scale of suffering faced by civilians, urging immediate attention from the international community.

The UN Security Council condemned the RSF's actions and called for safe passage for individuals fleeing the city. In a distressing account, humanitarian organizations reported thousands displaced and vulnerable to violence as the conflict escalates.

Despite Dagalo's promises for investigations, skepticism abounds, as previous pledges made after past atrocities were largely unfulfilled.

Reports indicate over 460 civilian deaths at El-Fasher's last operational hospital, with conflicting accounts regarding the circumstances surrounding the assaults. Humanitarian sources described a situation of severe malnutrition and targeted violence against non-Arab populations.

As the RSF maintains control over parts of Sudan, the dichotomy between RSF and military factions continues to shape the ongoing humanitarian crisis, now marked by ethnic tensions and a desperate need for international intervention.