Amnesty International has reported that civilians in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state in Sudan, continue to endure arbitrary detention, torture and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid. These findings come one year after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of the city, an event marked by widespread atrocities against the civilian population. New testimonies collected by the organization reveal how schools were converted into detention centers, strict curfews were imposed, and extrajudicial killings became rampant.
Demographic Collapse and Surveillance
According to figures tracked by humanitarian organizations operating within the city, the current population of El Fasher stands at fewer than 70,000 people. This represents a drastic decline from the pre-war population, which exceeded one million residents. Humanitarian access remains critically limited, with aid workers and other civilians subjected to constant monitoring by RSF forces. The threat of arbitrary detention persists for both local residents and international personnel.
Testimonies of Abuse and Extortion
In August and September 2026, Amnesty International interviewed 25 individuals regarding conditions in El Fasher, including 19 residents and six aid workers. Among the residents interviewed, 17 had been detained by RSF forces. Most were arrested during the initial takeover or while returning to retrieve belongings or search for missing relatives. Detainees reported holding periods lasting several months, with specific ethnic groups, particularly the Zaghawa and Masalit, identified as primary targets for abuse.
Men were typically held in prisons or detention centers where they witnessed extrajudicial executions and endured torture with minimal access to food or water. Release was often contingent upon families paying ransoms. One detainee, identified as Madather, a 29-year-old Zaghawa man held in Shalla prison, described systematic beatings and executions for minor infractions such as sleeping too much. Another detainee, Mamoun, a 33-year-old Zaghawa man, reported being beaten repeatedly based on the mood of guards and witnessing the death of a diabetic prisoner denied medical care. He was eventually released after his family paid a ransom.
Musa, a 23-year-old Zaghawa man, recounted being held with his father in the El Fasher Children’s Hospital in October 2025. After paying a ransom, they were not allowed to leave but were instead forced to work for the RSF, including collecting corpses, and compelled to appear on camera declaring the city safe to encourage others to return.
Schools as Detention Centers
Women, children, and elderly or infirm men were frequently held in schools functioning as de facto detention centers. Interviewees reported high rates of malnutrition among detainees, particularly affecting children. Nine individuals who had been held in these school facilities reported extremely limited access to food and medical treatment. All nine were either released or managed to escape by July or August 2026.
International Response and Political Context
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, stated that claims by the RSF that El Fasher is safe for return are false. She highlighted that fear dominates the city, with civilians under constant surveillance. Callamard criticized the international community for failing to hold perpetrators accountable and noted the lack of diplomatic efforts to establish a protective force. She specifically pointed out that the United Arab Emirates continues to support the RSF, while other influential governments have failed to condemn or sanction this role. Meanwhile, the Sudanese Armed Forces have consistently opposed ceasefire extensions, maintaining a belief in a military solution despite the ongoing suffering of the Sudanese people. Amnesty International sent a letter detailing these findings to the RSF on October 9, receiving no response by the time of publication.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
