The Sudan Doctors Network reports that the Rapid Support Forces are detaining thousands across el-Fasher in "dire" conditions, including 20 doctors, more than 1,470 civilians and 907 military personnel. The NGO alleges torture, killings during interrogation, ethnically motivated executions and a cholera outbreak in detention centres, with 370 women and 426 children among the detainees. UN-backed investigators say RSF actions around el-Fasher show hallmarks that point toward genocide, while civilians outside the city continue to face deadly strikes.
Thousands Detained in El-Fasher by RSF, NGO Says — Doctors, Women and Children Held in 'Dire' Conditions
The doctors’ network said Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers are reportedly committing 'severe violations' inside detention centres [File: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]
Thousands of people remain detained in dire conditions by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) across el-Fasher in western Sudan, the local medical NGO Sudan Doctors Network reported on Monday.
The network said detention facilities across the city are holding 20 doctors, more than 1,470 civilians and 907 military personnel. It described conditions as "dire," reporting severe abuses including torture, killings during interrogation, and ethnically motivated executions.
Detention Sites and Reported Abuses
According to the NGO, detainees are being held in multiple locations, including Shalla Prison, a children’s hospital repurposed as a holding facility, and cargo containers converted into cells. Among those detained are 370 women and 426 children. The group warned that some captives have been subjected to "field executions" and that many injured by shelling have not received medical care.
Humanitarian and Health Crisis
Detention centres in el-Fasher have been contending with a cholera outbreak since early February. The Sudan Doctors Network said poor sanitation, lack of clean water and widespread malnutrition have accelerated the spread of disease. The seizure of the 20 doctors and a critical shortage of medical supplies have severely weakened the local health system, the NGO added.
Context and International Findings
The RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been fighting since April 2023. The United Nations has described the conflict as creating the "world’s worst humanitarian crisis," with hundreds of thousands killed and millions displaced. UN-backed investigators in February reported that RSF actions in and around el-Fasher amounted to a "coordinated campaign of destruction" against non-Arab communities, noting hallmarks that they say point toward genocide.
There was no immediate comment from the RSF on the Sudan Doctors Network's allegations.
Ongoing Threats to Civilians
Outside el-Fasher, civilians remain at grave risk. Emergency Lawyers, a Sudanese legal advocacy group, reported that a Sudanese army strike on the Hamidiyah camp for displaced people near Zalingei killed six and wounded dozens, destroying several homes. The camp shelters thousands—mostly women and children—who rely on humanitarian aid.
Sudan's conflict began as a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo and has escalated into widespread fighting and civilian suffering.
Help us improve.
