Sudanese minister reports 300 women killed in El-Fasher by paramilitary forces

Sudan's Minister of State for Social Welfare has revealed that paramilitary forces killed 300 women during the first 48 hours after capturing El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. Salma Ishaq provided the detailed account in statements Saturday, describing systematic violence against women in the strategically important city.

Systematic Violence Against Women

Minister Ishaq stated that women in El-Fasher were subjected to sexual assaults, violence, and torture by the Rapid Support Forces. "There are still families in El-Fasher who are being subjected to dragging, torture, humiliation, and sexual violence," she emphasized. The minister characterized the violence as "a systematic act of ethnic cleansing" and noted that international silence has made observers complicit in what she termed a "major crime."

Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement Dangers

The minister issued stark warnings about the extreme dangers facing civilians attempting to flee the conflict zone. She described the route from El-Fasher to Tawila as a "road of death," indicating that anyone attempting the journey faces severe risk. The statement comes amid massive displacement throughout the region, with United Nations reports indicating over 15 million people have been displaced since the conflict began in April 2023.

RSF Response and Broader Conflict Context

The allegations follow the RSF's capture of El-Fasher on October 26, an event that local and international organizations say was accompanied by massacres against civilians. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo acknowledged earlier last week that "violations" had occurred by his forces in El-Fasher, claiming that investigation committees had been formed. The conflict between Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary RSF has resulted in approximately 20,000 fatalities according to UN and local estimates, with numerous regional and international mediation attempts failing to establish a lasting ceasefire.