October 30, 2025

During the past week, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured new areas, most notably the city of Bara in North Kordofan on October 25 and El Fasher in North Darfur on October 26. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied groups confirmed the complete fall of El Fasher, and in a speech delivered on October 27, 2025, the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese army announced that SAF forces had withdrawn to a safe location.

This was followed by the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher after a prolonged siege that it had imposed on the city for nearly 18 months, causing a total collapse of humanitarian conditions for civilians and aid workers.

Based on reports received and analysis of videos posted by numerous RSF fighters and allied militias during the overrun of El Fasher, Sudan Human Rights Hub has documented extensive violations against civilians and other unarmed individuals in civilian clothing, who were targeted at gunpoint and executed en masse. Sudan Human Rights Hub verification team has confirmed the authenticity of these videos, which clearly show grave breaches of the laws of war and international humanitarian law, committed by RSF forces and their allied militias.

Verified videos circulated on social media and news outlets depict RSF fighters terrorizing civilians—including women, children, and the elderly—as they attempted to flee El Fasher. Analysis of these videos and accompanying audio of the fighters in RSF uniform in these videos, indicates that there are clear ethnic motivations behind the violations and assaults, evident from the language used by the perpetrators during the assault and the widespread violations.

Sudan Human Rights Hub has also verified through partners and other sources that widespread violations occurred in Bara, Umm Dam Hajj Ahmed, and other areas of North Kordofan following RSF military advances. Open-source reports point to mass killings of civilians, arbitrary detentions based on alleged affiliation with the opposing side, and cases of degrading or inhumane treatment and other abuses. While the Hub’s and partners’ verification continues, limited access to information and the absence of visibility continue to hinder collective efforts to protect civilians in these areas.

Sudan Human Rights Hub continues to monitor, document, and verify reports of violations against civilians and civilian objects. Under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, all non-combatants are protected from torture and inhumane treatment.
The RSF must guarantee safe passage for civilians fleeing active combat zones to areas of safety.

Recommendations

To the International Community:

• Impose targeted sanctions: The international community must immediately impose targeted sanctions on leaders and those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law in El Fasher and other regions.

• Ensure civilian protection: Work to establish safe humanitarian corridors and guarantee unimpeded delivery of aid to civilians trapped in El Fasher.

• Promote accountability: Support independent and impartial investigative mechanisms to document violations and prosecute perpetrators in accordance with international law.

• Call for a ceasefire: Exert strong diplomatic pressure on all warring parties to implement an immediate and lasting ceasefire and return to negotiations.

• Support peace efforts: Provide technical and financial support to regional and international mediation initiatives aimed at achieving a comprehensive and sustainable political solution to Sudan’s conflict.

To Local Leaders:

• Protect civilians: Urge all armed factions to respect international humanitarian law, safeguard civilians and their property, and ensure safe humanitarian access.

• Unite efforts: Encourage unity among local leaders and communities to pressure warring parties to halt hostilities and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery.

• Foster reconciliation: Initiate reconciliation and trust-building processes among affected communities to ensure peaceful coexistence and prevent future inter-communal conflict.

• Engage Civil Society’s humanitarian initiatives and efforts, to care for and help civilians fleeing active hot zones

To the Warring Parties (RSF, SAF, Joint Forces, and other armed actors):

• Cease hostilities immediately: Halt all military operations in El Fasher and other regions and commit to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

• Respect international law: Comply with the laws of war and humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, and refrain from targeting civilian infrastructure.

• Facilitate aid access: Allow unrestricted humanitarian access to all affected areas and ensure the safety of aid convoys and workers.

• Open channels for dialogue and Engage constructively in ceasefire and humanitarian truces led by regional and international mediators.

• Investigate violations: Conduct immediate, transparent investigations into all alleged violations and hold those responsible accountable within their ranks.

• Release results of previously announced investigations by warring parties in past verified and documented violations of the IHL and the International Human Rights Law in other regions of Sudan since the start of the ongoing conflict.

• Civilian and political leaders of all conflict parties must fulfil their duty to protect civilians and prevent human rights violations.

Social Media Platforms and Users

• For hosting platforms: Enforce content policies on hate speech, incitement to violence, and the posting of violent content.

• For accountability mechanisms: Platforms should cooperate with accountability bodies to collect and preserve digital evidence for justice and accountability processes.

• For users: Refrain from providing live spaces or platforms to individuals who incite hate or violence—whether commentators or combatants—and be aware of the legal and criminal liabilities of such actions.

Sudan Human Rights Hub Team

For verified reports from the affected regions and Sudan contact Sudan Human Rights Hub