The United States has joined international condemnation of reported mass atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces in El-Fasher, North Darfur, as the war in Sudan intensifies.
In a statement, the U.S. State Department voiced deep concern for civilians inside the city and those fleeing to nearby areas.
“The RSF must stop engaging in retribution and ethnic violence; the tragedy in El Geneina must not be repeated,” it said.
Human rights groups warn that systematic killings in El Fasher point to a continuation of the Darfur genocide, as the city fell to the RSF after an 18-month siege.
Both the RSF, led by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), and the Sudanese army under Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, have faced accusations of mass atrocities throughout the conflict.
Satellite images analyzed by Yale University researchers indicate large-scale killings, with bodies seen across residential areas, a university campus and military sites.
The UN human rights office says hundreds of civilians and detainees may have been killed during and after the RSF takeover.
Washington says military force will not resolve the conflict, adding, “There isn't a viable military solution, and external military support only prolongs the conflict. The United States urges both parties to pursue a negotiated path to end the suffering of the Sudanese people.”
The UN Security Council also condemned the RSF offensive, calling for civilian protection and humanitarian access, as aid agencies reported sexual violence, attacks on hospitals, and worsening conditions after nearly 500 days of siege.
The RSF claims to have arrested members accused of abuses, including a commander filmed executing detainees, but UN officials and aid groups doubt the credibility of the group’s investigations.
The conflict between the army and RSF has created one of the world’s largest displacement crises.
According to the United Nations, more than 11.7 million people have been forced from their homes inside Sudan or across its borders. Basic services have collapsed, and humanitarian funding remains critically insufficient.
Aid agencies say access restrictions and continued attacks on relief workers are worsening the suffering
