African Union’s Urgent Call for Ceasefire and Corridors in El Fasher as RSF Seizes Control
The African Union (AU) has issued a forceful condemnation of the escalating violence and reported atrocities in El Fasher, Sudan, following the recent announcement that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have seized large parts of the besieged North Darfur capital.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, demanding the opening of humanitarian corridors to prevent a catastrophic loss of life.
The desperate situation in El Fasher, a vital regional hub and the last major stronghold for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur, is now considered to be on the precipice of an even greater human rights catastrophe.
AU Condemns Grave Violations and Targeted Killings
The condemnation from the AU Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, on October 27th, underscores the severity of the crisis, which has seen fierce fighting, drone strikes, and a nearly two-year-long siege dramatically intensify.
Allegations of War Crimes
The AU Chairperson expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and specifically condemned what he described as “grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
The statement explicitly mentioned “alleged war crimes and ethnically targeted killings of civilians,” referencing alarming reports from the ground following the RSF’s major territorial gains.
• Accountability Warning: The Chairperson strongly warned all parties to the conflict that the perpetrators of such “heinous acts” will be held accountable, a stark reminder of the potential for future international legal proceedings.
• No Military Solution: Reaffirming the continental body’s long-standing position, the AU stressed that a military solution to the crisis is not viable and urged all actors to commit to an inclusive, political dialogue.
The Looming Catastrophe in El Fasher
The situation for civilians in El Fasher, who have been trapped in the besieged city for over a year, has become terrifyingly precarious.
The UN Human Rights Office noted that the risk of further large-scale, ethnically motivated abuses is “mounting by the day,” with preliminary reports of summary executions being carried out by RSF fighters.
Desperate Humanitarian Plea
The most immediate need is for aid access to the city, which has been almost entirely cut off from life-saving supplies for months.
Call for Humanitarian Corridors
The AU’s statement placed a firm demand on the warring parties to open humanitarian corridors without delay to allow life-saving aid to reach the affected population.
International organizations, including the UN and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), have repeatedly called for the same, noting that basic needs in the region are being met at less than 50 per cent.
• Targeted Infrastructure: Recent attacks have targeted vital civilian infrastructure, including a mosque where displaced families were sheltering and the city’s last functioning hospital.
The relentless shelling has decimated health services and led to reports of civilian deaths, including local humanitarian volunteers.
• Mass Displacement and Famine: Tens of thousands of civilians continue to flee El Fasher towards neighbouring areas like Tawila, arriving severely traumatized and with nothing.
Aid agencies warn that the sheer number of displaced people is overwhelming existing support systems, leading to acute shortages of food, water, and medical care, with children suffering from severe acute malnutrition facing an imminent risk of death.
The African Union reaffirmed its commitment to the Sudanese people and its willingness to work with all stakeholders to restore peace, unity, and stability in the country, but stressed that the immediate, unconditional ceasefire is a non-negotiable prerequisite to avert a greater tragedy.
Headline Points: Sudan Atrocities
• Location: El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan.
• AU Action: AU Commission Chairperson condemned “grave violations” and “ethnically targeted killings” following the RSF’s seizure of large parts of the city.
• Key Demand: Immediate and unconditional ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors for aid delivery.
• Humanitarian Crisis: Civilians are trapped and face mounting risk of large-scale atrocities, including summary executions and sexual violence, with critical infrastructure like the city’s last hospital and mosques being targeted.
• Context: The renewed escalation comes as the RSF makes major gains against the SAF, threatening a deeper humanitarian crisis in Darfur, where a famine was declared last year.
