TAWILA, Sudan — Survivors of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) assault on el-Fasher, the last major city in Darfur under army control, have described scenes of terror, torture, and mass killings as thousands fled the paramilitary’s takeover.
Speaking to the BBC, Ezzeldin Hassan Musa recounted how he narrowly escaped execution after being beaten and robbed by RSF fighters during his flight from the city.
“We were divided into groups and beaten. The scenes were extremely brutal. We saw people murdered in front of us. They wanted to execute us completely,” said Ezzeldin, lying weakly on a mat in Tawila, about 80 kilometres from el-Fasher.
He said the fighters confiscated phones, clothes, and money before forcing victims to march for hours without food or water. “Even my shoes were stolen. We went without food for three days while walking in the streets. By God’s mercy, we made it through,” he added.
According to the UN, the RSF takeover of el-Fasher — long besieged and suffering from severe hunger — has triggered “horrific” violence, echoing atrocities from Darfur’s earlier conflicts.
RSF commander Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, admitted on Wednesday that his fighters committed “violations” and promised investigations.
Another survivor, Ahmed Ismail Ibrahim, recounted how RSF fighters executed four of his companions during their escape.
“They beat them and killed them in front of us. I was shot three times, and they went through our phones looking for messages. Then one fighter told us, ‘OK, get up and go,’” he said, his body wrapped in bandages.
In a nearby tent at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) clinic in Tawila, Yusra Ibrahim Mohamed said she fled after her husband, a soldier, was killed.
“We saw dead bodies in the streets. People could even be executed if they resisted,” she said.
Alfadil Dukhan, an MSF medic, said over 500 patients have arrived needing urgent medical care. “Most are elders, women, and children. Some have amputations. They are really suffering,” he said.
Aid agencies estimate around 5,000 people have reached Tawila since Sunday, but fear that tens of thousands remain trapped. Caroline Bouvoir of Solidarités International warned that many may be stranded or unable to move due to injuries and insecurity.
“We believe many are stuck between Tawila and el-Fasher, unable to move forward because militias are attacking people trying to find safety,” she said.
Before its fall, el-Fasher endured 18 months of siege, relentless bombardments, and starvation as the RSF blockaded food and aid supplies. The city’s fall marks a devastating milestone in Sudan’s 18-month civil war, which has displaced millions and left vast parts of the country on the brink of famine.
For survivors like Ezzeldin, the trauma remains fresh.
“Public roads should be secured for citizens, or humanitarian aid sent to the streets,” he pleaded. “People are in a critical state — missing, starving, and suffering.”
Reporting from BBC and humanitarian agencies;
