Sudan’s RSF accused of ‘PR stunt’ after arresting fighters behind civilian killings

 Sudan’s RSF accused of ‘PR stunt’ after arresting fighters behind civilian killings

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been accused of staging a PR stunt purportedly intended to demonstrate their responsibility after announcing the arrest of several of their own fighters who have been accused of gross abuses and killing civilians during the recent takeover of El-Fasher City. While the RSF issued statements and videos of the arrests and stating an investigation would take place, the international organizations, survivors and human rights groups have dismissed the RSF is credible, reliable or responsible; pointing to evidence of widespread and systematic violence against unarmed civilians throughout Darfur. 

Context/Incident in El-Fasher

The RSF took El-Fasher after an 18-month siege, and thousands of civilians were reported killed in the subsequent violence. 

Survivor accounts and verified videos depicted summary executions, shooting unarmed men, beatings, looting and sexual violence. 

International humanitarian agencies and the UN cited credible reports of mass killings and called for urgent investigations of events which some termed genocide or crimes against humanity. 

The RSF’s Public Response then International Reaction

After the international uproar about the treatment of civilians by the RSF, senior leadership stated an investigation would take place, while showing video evidence of accused fighters in custody and initiating legal proceedings.

Critics contend that these measures wielded the intention of portraying the RSF as dutiful and responsive to these allegations in order to deflect advocacy for external accountability and sanctions, especially as international pressure intensifies due to reports from the US government and UN of systematic, ethnically-motivated violence and looting perpetrated by the RSF.

Authors and government observers point out that the RSF's internal measures, taken alone, are insufficient, and that international independent scrutiny and justice are essential.

Impact on Human Life and Ongoing Crisis

Over the last few weeks, reports indicate that over 2,000 civilians have been killed in El-Fasher alone, with a general toll of casualties and displacements from a wider conflict in Sudan numbering in the tens of thousands and millions, respectively.