Executions Reported and Documented Following RSF Takeover of El-Fasher

Videos analyzed by BBC Verify indicate executions of unarmed individuals by fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after the capture of El-Fasher. The UN's Sudan coordinator has reported "credible accounts of summary executions" in the city. Satellite images are also consistent with reports of mass killings.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured a military base in El-Fasher over the weekend following a siege. The RSF has been in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for over two years. Following the capture of the city, multiple videos circulated online showing individuals in military fatigues, some with what appeared to be RSF insignia, engaged in acts of violence in the vicinity of El-Fasher.

Denise Brown, the UN's Sudan coordinator, informed the BBC on Wednesday that her office had received "credible reports of summary executions" within the city, specifically targeting "unarmed men in particular." BBC Verify has sought comment from the RSF. Imran Abdullah, an adviser to the paramilitary, denied that RSF fighters were targeting civilians during a BBC interview on Monday. The killing of unarmed civilians or surrendering combatants is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

Observations of Executions

BBC Verify reviewed multiple video clips, most of which were located in rural, sandy areas, making precise geolocation challenging. However, one video depicting the shooting of an unarmed man was geolocated to a university building in El-Fasher. This clip showed an unarmed man seated among numerous bodies in a hallway. An armed individual was observed descending stairs, then raising a rifle and firing a single shot at the unarmed man, who subsequently fell to the ground motionless.

Other clips are circulating online, but their outdoor settings with limited landmarks have made geolocation outside the city difficult.

BBC Verify identified a fighter named Abu Lulu, whose activities with the RSF have been documented on a social media profile. This individual has been placed in the area around El-Fasher in recent days through video analysis. A video posted online over the weekend showed him among bodies north-west of the city. While the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) collaborated to confirm this footage's location, the quality of the video did not allow for identification of the deceased as either civilians or SAF troops.

Abu Lulu has also appeared in at least two additional videos showing him participating in the execution of unarmed men who were kneeling and under armed guard. All these videos have appeared online since the weekend. In one video, Abu Lulu was seen addressing an injured man on the ground, questioning him and threatening him, before shooting the captive multiple times with an automatic rifle. Another video depicted Abu Lulu alongside several RSF troops, carrying AK-style assault rifles and guarding at least nine unarmed captives. After addressing the captives, Abu Lulu fired his rifle into the group. Other armed men were observed raising their arms and cheering afterward. In a separate clip, Abu Lulu stood with other armed individuals, with dozens of dead bodies visible in the background. Some fighters wore RSF-style uniforms, including one with a circular patch featuring a black line, consistent with the paramilitary's insignia.

Broader Context and Reports

In August, the RSF stated it would investigate Abu Lulu following accusations of executing a captive, promising accountability "without delay" if his membership was proven.

US-based researchers from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab reported that satellite images of El-Fasher taken since the city's capture show observations consistent with mass killings. Their Monday report highlighted large "clusters" in the images, described as "consistent with the size range of adult human bodies and are not present in previous imagery." The analysts' observations were deemed "consistent with reports of executions" shared by the UN and human rights groups, and also noted "discoloration" which they assessed "may be human blood."

The conflict in Sudan, which began in 2023 following the breakdown of a former ruling coalition involving the SAF and the RSF, has led to over 150,000 fatalities and approximately 12 million displaced individuals across the country.