The Sudanese government has issued a strong condemnation against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia for what it described as “acts of ethnic cleansing and genocide” in the city of Al-Fashir, capital of North Darfur State.
The government’s statement, released on October 27, 2025, denounced the RSF’s actions as a culmination of two and a half years of siege, starvation tactics, and systematic killings of civilians in a campaign that now bears the hallmarks of organized terrorism and mass extermination.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the RSF—referred to by Khartoum as the Dagalo terrorist group—has for months blockaded Al-Fashir, cutting off food, medicine, and humanitarian aid before launching a full-scale assault targeting unarmed civilians.
The government accused the militia of committing atrocities including mass executions, sexual violence, and the destruction of entire neighborhoods, often filming and publicly sharing the crimes as propaganda.
“This is the darkest episode in modern Sudanese history,” the Ministry stated, describing the killings as “a grave precedent in global genocides.”
The Sudanese government maintained that wherever the RSF operates, destruction and death follow, emphasizing that the group has repeatedly ignored international calls for peace and humanitarian access.
The statement further criticized what it termed “the silence and hypocrisy of the international community,” blaming global powers for failing to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024), which called for an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes in Sudan.
Khartoum accused certain foreign governments of using the conflict to pursue political and economic gains, thereby emboldening the RSF to continue its campaign of violence.
“The people of Al-Fashir are victims of the failure of international will and double standards that deny Sudanese citizens justice,” the statement lamented.
It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to defending the nation through the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), pledging to protect civilians and restore stability across the war-torn country.
The crisis in Sudan dates back to April 2023, when violent clashes erupted between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, popularly known as Hemedti. What began as a power struggle between two military factions soon escalated into a nationwide war, displacing millions and plunging the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
As the situation in Al-Fashir worsened, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) released its own statement on October 29, 2025, from its headquarters in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The regional bloc condemned the ethnically motivated killings, the use of mercenaries, and attacks on aid workers by the RSF, calling them “abhorrent and unacceptable.” The ICGLR warned that the ongoing violence could destabilize the entire Great Lakes and Horn of Africa regions.
The ICGLR reaffirmed decisions made during its 10th Extraordinary Summit in June 2023, emphasizing that Sudan’s conflict cannot be resolved through military means.
The bloc urged an immediate cessation of hostilities, opening of humanitarian corridors, and the resumption of inclusive political dialogue involving all Sudanese stakeholders. It also pledged to work with the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and other partners to facilitate a comprehensive peace process and provide humanitarian assistance.
In a related development, the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) convened an emergency session on October 28, 2025, in Addis Ababa to discuss the escalating violence.
In its official communiqué, the PSC expressed grave concern over the atrocities in Al-Fashir, describing them as flagrant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The AU called for an immediate ceasefire, the establishment of humanitarian corridors, and accountability for those responsible for war crimes.
The Council also reaffirmed its respect for Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while condemning all forms of external interference fueling the conflict. It warned that any state or entity found supporting the warring parties would face sanctions.
To ensure coordinated regional and international action, the AU directed its Commission Chairperson to work closely with the UN, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the ICGLR to develop a civilian protection plan within three weeks.
The AU Sanctions Subcommittee, along with its security agencies CISSA and AFRIPOL, was also tasked with identifying foreign actors aiding the RSF and recommending appropriate punitive measures.
“The African Union remains fully committed to accompanying the people of Sudan in their pursuit of peace, stability, and democratic governance,” the communiqué concluded, underscoring that no military victory can bring lasting peace to Sudan.
The unified reactions from Khartoum, Addis Ababa, and Bujumbura highlight growing continental concern that the RSF’s campaign has gone beyond internal conflict and now represents a humanitarian and security threat to the region.
