RSF killings in Sudan bear signs of genocide, UN says

A UN fact-finding body reported on February 20, 2026, that mass killings by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher bear signs of genocide. The report details that thousands have been killed in the area. The UN investigation accuses the RSF of committing widespread atrocities, including rape, torture, and extortion. These findings suggest a systematic pattern of violence targeting specific groups in El Fasher. The report highlights the severity of the conflict and raises concerns about potential crimes against humanity.

UN experts have reported that a campaign of destruction carried out by Sudanese rebels in October in and around El-Fasher, a city in the Darfur region of western Sudan, bears "hallmarks of genocide." The attacks targeted non-Arab communities. The report highlights the severity of the violence and its potential classification as genocide. The attacks have resulted in injuries, displacement, and the establishment of camps for those who fled the violence. The UN's assessment underscores the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the ongoing conflict and protect vulnerable populations in the Darfur region.

A United Nations report states that the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.) paramilitary group in Sudan acted with "genocidal intent" during an 18-month assault on El Fasher, culminating in massacres, torture, and rape in October 2025. The report, published in February 2026, details gruesome abuses and marks the first time a U.N.-mandated body has accused the R.S.F. of such acts. While the U.N. group cannot formally determine genocide, the report offers evidence of severe abuses in El Fasher, a city in the Darfur region, during Sudan's ongoing civil war, which began in April 2023. The report may bring scrutiny to the United Arab Emirates, accused of supporting the R.S.F., though the UAE denies these claims. The U.S. previously determined that R.S.F. fighters committed genocide against the Masalit group in El Geneina in late 2023, suggesting a pattern of ethnic targeting.