Table of Contents
- El Fasher Atrocities Caught on Camera
- Darfur on the Brink of Genocide—Again
- Who Is Abu Lulu? The Commander Behind the Killings
- Global Silence as Violence Spirals
- Sources
Sudan’s El Fasher Massacres: Graphic Videos Reveal Genocidal Horror
Disturbing video footage from El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, has exposed a chilling wave of executions and mass casualties that human rights experts warn could signal the return of genocidal violence to the region. The footage—verified by The New York Times’s Visual Investigations team—shows dozens of bodies strewn across scorched earth, burning vehicles, and a lone survivor pleading for his life before being summarily executed.
In one harrowing clip, Sudanese paramilitary commander Abu Lulu is seen listening to the man’s desperate cries, then calmly raising his weapon and shooting him point-blank before walking away without a word. The cold detachment captured in the video has shocked international observers and reignited fears that Darfur is sliding back into the abyss of ethnic cleansing that claimed over 300,000 lives two decades ago.
Darfur on the Brink of Genocide—Again
The violence in El Fasher comes amid a broader civil war between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has displaced millions and left humanitarian corridors blocked. But in Darfur, the conflict has taken on a distinctly ethnic dimension, with RSF and allied Arab militias targeting non-Arab communities—including the Masalit, Zaghawa, and Fur peoples.
Survivors and local activists report mass graves, village burnings, and systematic sexual violence. The United Nations has warned of “clear indicators of atrocity crimes,” yet international intervention remains stalled amid geopolitical gridlock and donor fatigue.
Key Facts About the El Fasher Crisis
- Location: El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan
- Main perpetrators: Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias
- Targeted groups: Primarily Masalit and other non-Arab ethnic communities
- Civilian deaths (estimated): Hundreds in recent weeks, possibly thousands since 2023
- Displaced persons: Over 2 million in Darfur alone
Who Is Abu Lulu? The Commander Behind the Killings
Abu Lulu, whose real name remains unconfirmed, has emerged as a feared RSF field commander in North Darfur. Local sources describe him as ruthless and deeply embedded in the militia’s chain of command. His appearance in the execution video—casual, unbothered, and seemingly unafraid of being recorded—suggests a level of impunity that underscores the collapse of law and order in the region.
Despite international sanctions targeting RSF leadership, mid-level commanders like Abu Lulu operate with near-total freedom, often coordinating attacks via encrypted messaging apps and social media.
Global Silence as Violence Spirals
While the African Union and UN have issued statements of concern, concrete action has been minimal. The International Criminal Court (ICC), which previously investigated Darfur atrocities in the 2000s, faces jurisdictional and political hurdles in launching a new probe.
“The world watched Darfur burn once,” said Amina Khalid, a Sudanese human rights advocate based in Nairobi. “Now it’s happening again—and no one is even pretending to care.”
With humanitarian access severely restricted and internet blackouts masking the scale of the carnage, the only evidence reaching the outside world comes from smuggled videos and eyewitness accounts. Yet even that raw footage may not be enough to spur the international community to act before it’s too late.
Sources
The New York Times: Executions and Mass Casualties: Videos Show Horror Unfolding in Sudan
