Micah Jonah
January 31, 2026
A Sudanese doctor has described harrowing scenes as he fled el-Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur province, following an assault by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that overran the city in late October.
Mohamed Ibrahim, a 28-year-old physician, said he feared he would not survive as RSF fighters advanced on the city, forcing civilians to flee under intense attacks. He was among those who escaped from el-Fasher’s last functioning hospital as fighting engulfed the area.
The RSF seized el-Fasher on October 26 after an 18-month siege, ending the Sudanese army’s final holdout in the Darfur region. The takeover marked a major turning point in the nearly three-year conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which began in April 2023.
According to Ibrahim, residents moved from house to house seeking safety as violence spread across the city. Many civilians attempted to flee by climbing walls, hiding in trenches, while others were unable to escape the chaos.
International bodies and rights groups have since reported widespread abuses following the fall of el-Fasher, including mass killings and forced displacement. The United Nations has described Sudan’s conflict as the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.
Speaking from Tawila, about 70 kilometres from el-Fasher, Ibrahim provided a first-hand account of events after RSF fighters entered the city. He said homes were stormed, personal belongings looted, residents forced to hand over their phones.
Satellite imagery reviewed by humanitarian researchers later showed multiple sites consistent with human remains between late October and early November, indicating large-scale loss of life during and after the takeover.
Ibrahim also said he was briefly detained by RSF fighters, who demanded a ransom for his release. After negotiations, his family paid for his freedom, allowing him to escape the area.
The International Organization for Migration reported that more than 26,000 people fled el-Fasher within two days of the city’s fall, with over 100,000 displaced by late November.
In response to the violence, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union have imposed sanctions on several RSF commanders. International legal bodies have also stated that war crimes, crimes against humanity were committed during the capture of el-Fasher.
