Story perspectives

Sudan's Al-Fashir Deserted Amid Ethnic Killings, Mass Displacement

12/29/2025

Center

Aid Workers Arrive

Aid workers reached al-Fashir, Sudan, for the first time since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control, finding the city deserted and more than 100,000 people fleeing since October.
Survivors reported ethnic killings and detentions.
In South Kordofan, violence displaced over 10,000 people in three days as the RSF pressed its offensive, contributing to a humanitarian crisis with millions displaced and facing starvation.

Left

Guterres Calls Ceasefire

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire in Sudan as fighting escalates in Darfur and Kordofan.
The conflict began in April 2023 and displaced 9.6 million people, with 30.4 million in need of aid.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the Heglig oilfield, heightening tensions and prompting South Sudanese forces to intervene.
Prime Minister Kamil Idris's peace plan was rejected by the RSF, which ruled out peacekeeping forces citing past failures.

History

Historical Context

The Darfur conflict erupted in 2003 when the Sudanese government and Janjaweed militias targeted non-Arab populations, leading to approximately 300,000 deaths and over 2.5 million displaced. Despite international attention and failed peace efforts, violence persists, with the Rapid Support Forces continuing this legacy of brutality, displacing over 9.6 million since April 2023, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

1 of 3

Aid Workers Arrive

Aid workers reached al-Fashir, Sudan, for the first time since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control, finding the city deserted and more than 100,000 people fleeing since October.
Survivors reported ethnic killings and detentions.
In South Kordofan, violence displaced over 10,000 people in three days as the RSF pressed its offensive, contributing to a humanitarian crisis with millions displaced and facing starvation.

1 / 3