The commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has announced the formation of a committee to investigate reports of grave human rights violations and atrocities committed in El-Fasher, where his forces have been accused of carrying out massacres.
He pledged full accountability for any perpetrators and promised to make the findings public.
In a video address, Hemedti - who also chairs the Presidential Council of the Sudanese Founding Alliance Government - said that his leadership had set up an immediate investigation to identify and punish any RSF members, soldiers or officers, found guilty of abuses or attacks on civilians in El-Fasher.
He confirmed that legal committees had already arrived in the city and begun their work, and that the results would be announced transparently.
The RSF has faced widespread accusations from local, regional, and international organizations of committing large-scale massacres described as “acts of genocide” in El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur, which the group seized last Saturday after a siege lasting more than 18 months.
Reports cited by Asharq Al-Awsat indicated that RSF forces launched a campaign of terror across the city, executing more than 2,000 civilians since Sunday. Videos circulated online appeared to show RSF fighters killing unarmed men in cold blood.
Hemedti ordered his forces to stop killing prisoners, whether military or civilian, insisting that all detainees must be tried in accordance with the law. He also instructed his interior minister and legal authorities to release all civilians held unlawfully.
He announced unrestricted civilian movement within the city and promised RSF withdrawal once El-Fasher is fully secured and cleared of land mines, with policing to be handed over to the regular police force.
Hemedti urged residents to help rebuild the city and called on international and regional organizations to provide urgent humanitarian aid to El-Fasher and other parts of Darfur and Kordofan, stressing that “the city remains full of mines and war debris.” He reiterated his rejection of any calls to divide Sudan, describing the seizure of El-Fasher as “a step toward unity, not fragmentation.”
