Hemedti Acknowledges RSF Violations in Al-Fasher and Pledges Investigation

The commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (known as Hemedti), admitted that violations were committed by his forces in Al-Fasher in the west of the country, pledging to open an investigation into the incidents.

Hemedti’s Admission and Investigation Pledge

• Admission: Hemedti’s statements followed widespread accusations by human rights organizations and medical unions against RSF fighters for committing atrocities, including mass killings, torture, and widespread looting, after they seized control of Al-Fasher on October 26th.

• Accountability Promise: Hemedti said, in a televised address broadcast via social media, that he had observed "violations in Al-Fasher," affirming that he would hold "any soldier or officer who committed a crime" accountable.

• Investigation Measures: The paramilitary leader announced that military and legal investigation committees had already arrived in the city to commence inquiries.

• Withdrawal Orders: Hemedti ordered his forces to withdraw from residential neighborhoods, promising to deploy RSF police units once the city is secured. He called for the return of displaced persons and appealed to international organizations to provide urgent humanitarian aid.

• Denial of Darfur Secession: Hemedti denied any intention by his forces to separate the Darfur region from the rest of Sudan following the capture of Al-Fasher, in an attempt to alleviate fears of national partition.

New 'Massacre' Accusations in North Kordofan

• Doctors' Union Accusation: The Sudanese Doctors Network accused the RSF of committing a "massacre" that claimed the lives of 38 unarmed civilians in the Umm Dam Haj Ahmed area of North Kordofan state, three days after the paramilitary forces seized the area.

• Ethnic Cleansing: The network described the incident as "field executions" of civilians accused of belonging to the Sudanese Army, asserting that the event is "not an isolated incident, but an extension of an ethnic cleansing and extermination plan carried out by the RSF."

• Bara Precedent: This development comes just days after another human rights organization accused the RSF of killing over 300 civilians following their takeover of the nearby city of Bara, which had been under army control.

• History of Violations: The RSF faces a recurring series of accusations from human rights groups for committing grave violations—including extrajudicial killings, looting, and forced displacement—in areas captured from the army, allegations the paramilitary force denies. Prior pledges by Hemedti to investigate similar violations in Al-Jazira state have not yet been implemented.

Egyptian Stance and Ceasefire Efforts

• Cairo Meeting: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr El-Aati met with his Sudanese counterpart Moezeldin Salem in Cairo to discuss the latest developments in Al-Fasher.

• Renewed Support: The Egyptian Minister affirmed his country's "continued efforts aimed at stabilizing the ceasefire in Sudan" and facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, renewing Egypt's commitment to supporting Sudan's unity and stability.