They denounce the execution of “more than 2,000 civilians”

The recent offensive by the Rapid Support Forces (FAR) to take control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has triggered a wave of complaints from Sudanese and humanitarian organizations. The military-aligned Darfur Joint Protection Force accuses paramilitaries of executing more than 2,000 unarmed civilians between Saturday and Monday, most of them women, children and the elderly.

The figure has not been able to be independently verified, but it coincides with testimonies about extensive massacres and looting.

The leader of the Sudanese Army, Abdelfatah al-Burhanhas recognized the withdrawal of its troops. The decision, he alleges, seeks to limit the destruction and protect part of the population. In a speech broadcast on state television, he affirms that the FAR “will be held accountable” for the crimes committed and emphasizes that the Armed Forces are “determined to avenge” the victims.

The offensive culminates a year and a half siege that has plunged the city into a critical situation. United Nations warns of acute hunger among hundreds of thousands of people trapped without food or medical supplies.

It is worth remembering that the war in Sudan It began in April 2023. More than thirteen million people have had to flee their homes. Half of the population has difficulty accessing a plate of food and some water every day. The international community demands a truce. But the paramilitary advance brings the conflict closer to other fronts in the country and distances the possibility of immediate negotiation.

The Sudanese Joint Forces, which include soldiers and former rebel groups, are calling on the UN, the Security Council and human rights organizations to classify the militia as a terrorist organization. In turn, they point out the United Arab Emirates for supporting the paramilitaries, something that the Gulf country denies.

The Sudanese Army also denounces the presence of mercenaries from Chad, South Sudan and Colombia.

Since Sunday’s takeover, the FAR has spread videos on social networks showing fighters partying in military installations. Other unverified materials include executions of civilians and mass graves.

The president of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssoufhas expressed “deep concern” about the atrocities and has condemned alleged war crimes and deliberate killings. He has also insisted that “there cannot be a military solution” and has called for political dialogue.

The Secretary General of the UN, António Guterreshas also denounced indiscriminate attacks, sexual violence and sabotage against civilian infrastructure. What the United Nations fears is a de facto partition of the country if the FAR consolidates its position on Darfur.