More than 60,000 Run from Sudanese City Following Takeover by Rapid Support Forces Militia, UN States

As stated by the United Nations refugee organization, more than 60,000 individuals have left the Sudanese city of el-Fasher, which was captured by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces over the weekend.

There have been mass executions and human rights violations as RSF fighters took control of the city after an year-and-a-half siege featuring famine and intense shelling.

The exodus of those escaping the conflict towards the community of Tawila, about 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had increased in the past few days, as stated by UNHCR spokesperson.

Refugees were describing horrendous stories of violence, including sexual violence, and the agency was having trouble to find adequate accommodation and nourishment for them.

All children was experiencing undernourishment, she commented.

Calculations indicate that over 150,000 individuals are still stranded in el-Fasher, which had been the army's last bastion in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has denied extensive accusations that the killings in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and resemble a trend of the Arab militia groups targeting ethnic minorities.

Yet the RSF has detained one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been implicated in summary executions.

The force released recordings showing the fighter's detention after verification that he was behind the killing of multiple non-combatants close to el-Fasher.

Video sharing service has acknowledged that it has suspended the account linked to Lulu. Uncertainty exists whether he had controlled the account in his identity.

Sudan was thrown into a civil war in April 2023 when a brutal struggle for power began between its military and the RSF.

It has resulted in a food crisis and allegations of ethnic cleansing in the western Sudan.

Over 150,000 individuals have been killed in the war around the country, and approximately 12 million have fled their homes in what the United Nations has called the biggest global humanitarian disaster.

The takeover of el-Fasher solidifies the territorial division in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in control of Sudan's west and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan to the south, and the military controlling the main city, Khartoum, the center and east along the Red Sea.

The competing factions had been partners - taking over together in a takeover in 2021 - but split over an foreign-endorsed plan to advance to civilian leadership.