RSF siege of El Fasher in Sudan has ‘hallmarks of genocide’, UN mission finds
The Guardian World
by Eromo Egbejule and agenciesFebruary 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The UN-mandated fact-finding mission has identified the siege of El Fasher by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as bearing "the hallmarks of genocide." The 18-month occupation of North Darfur's capital saw deliberate actions targeting the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic communities, with investigators concluding that the RSF and allied militias created conditions aimed at their physical destruction. This report underscores a disturbing pattern of ethnic persecution, raising alarms over potential genocide.
The RSF's tactics during the siege included mass killings, widespread looting, and the systematic destruction of homes and infrastructure in areas predominantly inhabited by Zaghawa and Fur communities. These actions were not random but strategically executed to terrorize and displace these groups, furthering efforts to erase their presence in North Darfur. Eyewitness accounts and evidence gathered by the mission paint a harrowing picture of fear and desperation among civilians, many of whom faced arbitrary detention, sexual violence, and extrajudicial killings.
The UN's findings amplify concerns over Sudan's ongoing instability and its impact on ethnic minorities. Since the 2021
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Originally published on The Guardian World on 2/19/2026