International Organization Paints a Grim Picture of El Fasher Under Rebel Control

Amnesty International has revealed a grim picture of the humanitarian and security situation in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, confirming the continued detention, torture, and unlawful killing of civilians, along with restrictions on humanitarian access, a year after the Rapid Support Forces militia seized control of the city.

In a report published on October 23, 2026, the organization stated that testimonies from residents who recently fled El Fasher revealed that schools had been converted into detention centers and that the movement of residents was under strict surveillance. The risk of arbitrary arrest remains high for civilians and humanitarian workers.

The organization based its documentation of the situation on interviews conducted during August and September 2026 with 25 civilians, including 19 residents of El Fasher and six humanitarian workers.

According to figures compiled by humanitarian organizations working in the city and cited by Amnesty International, the population of El Fasher has dwindled to less than 70,000, compared to over one million before the outbreak of war. Humanitarian access remains limited, and civilians and aid workers are subject to constant surveillance.

Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that the Rapid Support Forces’ claims that El Fasher is safe for civilians to return are “far from the truth,” emphasizing that fear pervades the city due to the ongoing risks of detention, torture, and killing.

The testimonies documented by the organization paint a picture of a city where the remaining residents live under constant fear and surveillance, with humanitarian aid dwindling, a year after the Rapid Support Forces seized control.