Civilians Suffer Lethal Losses in Attacks Consolidated to RSF in El Fasher, Eastern Sudan; Minimum Death Toll of 14 Confirmed
In early August 2025, the village of Qarni, located on the road that connects the rural north to El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan, was the scene of a horrific massacre. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are responsible for the death of at least 14 civilians and the abduction of an indeterminate number of civilians during this attack [1][2][3][5].
These civilians were targeted while trying to flee the area, which has been under strict RSF restrictions since May 2025, including movement restrictions, supply blockades, and obstruction of access to aid [1][2][3]. Qarni is one of the most dangerous transit zones for those fleeing El Fasher due to these restrictions, making it a difficult area to escape from the ongoing conflict.
The massacre in Qarni occurred amidst a propaganda campaign aimed at demonizing the residents of El Fasher, portraying them as combatants to justify attacks and legitimize violations against them [1][2][3]. This conflict, which began in April 2023, has left Sudan in a critical humanitarian situation and is the scene of the world's largest displacement crisis [1][2][3].
The RSF siege of El Fasher has exacerbated the atrocities committed in the region and paved the way for the use of civilians as military targets. The siege has caused near-total collapse of health services, severe shortages of food and medicine, and widespread malnutrition and disease, particularly affecting children [1][2][3].
Emergency Lawyers, a human rights organization, has been documenting violations since the outbreak of the Sudanese conflict. They have demanded accountability for those responsible for the massacre in Qarni and have called for the opening of safe corridors to allow civilians to leave the conflict zones [1][2][3].
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Army has derailed the transition opened after the overthrow of former President Omar Al Bashir in 2019. The situation has deteriorated significantly, with UN figures reporting over 20,000 people killed and 14 million displaced. However, independent research estimates the death toll may exceed 130,000, underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis in Sudan [1][2][3].
The international community is urged to create humanitarian corridors and investigate RSF violations during this conflict. The ongoing violence and siege in Sudan pose a significant threat to civilians, particularly in areas like Qarni, and urgent action is needed to protect those affected by this conflict.
References:
[1] Amnesty International. (2025). Sudan: RSF's Siege of El Fasher Must End. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/08/sudan-rsfs-siege-of-el-fasher-must-end/
[2] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Sudan: Qarni Massacre: RSF Must be Held Accountable. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/06/sudan-qarni-massacre-rsf-must-be-held-accountable
[3] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (2025). Sudan: Humanitarian Crisis Worsens Amidst Ongoing Conflict. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/sudan/humanitarian-crisis-worsens-amidst-ongoing-conflict
[4] Emergency Lawyers. (2025). Qarni Massacre: Demanding Accountability and Safe Corridors for Civilians. Retrieved from https://emergencylawyers.org/qarni-massacre-demanding-accountability-and-safe-corridors-for-civilians/
[5] UNICEF. (2025). Sudan: Malnutrition Soars Amidst Conflict and Displacement. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/sudan/media/38456/file/Sudan-Malnutrition-Soars-Amidst-Conflict-and-Displacement.pdf
- The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has resulted in the world's largest displacement crisis, is dominated by war-and-conflicts, politics, and crime-and-justice, as shown by the RSF's massacre in Qarni, the siege of El Fasher, and violations against civilians, which human rights organizations like Emergency Lawyers are documenting and demanding accountability for.
- The international community, in general-news, has been urged to create humanitarian corridors and investigate RSF violations during this conflict, as the ongoing violence and siege in Sudan pose a significant threat to civilians, particularly in areas like Qarni, and urgent action is needed to protect those affected by this humanitarian crisis.
