Assault on Sudanese City Bore ‘Hallmarks of Genocide,’ U.N. Finds

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by Declan Walsh

February 19, 2026

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An 18-month paramilitary assault on El Fasher, Sudan, including mass killings, rape, and torture, was carried out with "hallmarks of genocide," according to a United Nations report. The attack, led by the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.), culminated in October with extreme violence, targeting civilians in the Darfur region. While the U.N. lacks formal authority to declare genocide, the findings mark the first time a U.N.-mandated body has accused R.S.F., a group tied to Sudanese leader Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, of such atrocities. The report highlights El Fasher as a symbol of the worst abuses in Sudan's civil war, which is entering its fourth year. The R.S.F.'s leader has acknowledged some troop misdeeds but shown no accountability efforts. Meanwhile, foreign involvement, particularly from the United Arab Emirates, has been criticized for supplying weapons and mercenaries to R.S.F., especially during the El Fasher siege. The U.N. findings could draw increased international scrutiny on such support, raising questions about complicity in human rights violations. This report underscores the severity of Sudan's conflict and its humanitarian toll. It also sheds light on how foreign arms and involvement intersect with mass atrocities, potentially implicating global powers in Darfur's crisis. For readers following Sudan's civil war, these findings emphasize the need for accountability and international action to prevent further atrocities and address ongoing human rights abuses in the region.

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/19/2026