Mass Killing of Civilians Near Al Fashir Verified Through Geolocation Analysis

An investigation has identified and verified the exact location of a mass killing of more than 80 people near Al Fashir, Sudan, during the city's recent capture by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Analysis of over a dozen videos, some filmed by individuals wearing RSF insignia, revealed the events and their aftermath.

Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, was the last major stronghold of the Sudanese military in the region and a refuge for people fleeing nearby areas. The city fell after more than 500 days under RSF siege. The RSF, engaged in a conflict with Sudan's military for control over the country, killed at least 1,500 people during the takeover, according to the Sudan Doctors Network.

Open-source evidence showed that individuals attempting to flee Al Fashir were killed by men, some appearing to wear RSF uniforms. The RSF had previously pledged to protect civilians and not tolerate any attempts to exploit their lives or tamper with their security.

Footage posted on social media depicted a mass killing over seven kilometers outside the city, where the fleeing convoy encountered an earthen berm encircling Al Fashir. The berm and an accompanying trench were constructed by the RSF during the siege. Satellite imagery indicates that the section to the northwest of the city, where the mass killing occurred, was built throughout August.

Analysis of the videos allowed for mapping the exact location of the killings to coordinates 13.71340, 25.27854. In satellite imagery, clusters of dark shapes around the vehicles north of the berm correspond to the locations of bodies identified in verified videos from the scene.

The video footage showed more than 80 bodies lying beside damaged and burning vehicles along the berm, inside the adjacent trench, and across the surrounding area. More than two dozen destroyed vehicles were also identified.

In one video, filmed early in the attack, fighters in what appear to be RSF uniforms are seen taking cover behind a vehicle as gunfire is heard. One fighter can be seen closing in on the burning convoy and aiming his weapon.

However, in later videos filmed by the fighters showing the aftermath of the attack, none of the casualties visible appeared to be in possession of weapons; almost all appeared to be dressed in civilian clothing, and several were women. Of the more than 80 casualties visible in various videos, a couple can be seen wearing what appears to be dark, military-style clothing, and one can be seen lying next to a belt of ammunition. It is unclear who the belt belonged to.

The arrangement of destroyed vehicles and groups of bodies in the videos matched what was visible in satellite imagery. Moreover, tire tracks visible in the sand appeared to link the mass killing site with the checkpoints along the sand berm. Fresh marks appeared on satellite images after October 27, the day of the RSF's complete takeover of Al Fashir.

An RSF commander known as Abu Lulu, identified in the videos by his distinctive white scarf, appeared in at least three videos from the scene. The commander has previously been featured in social media footage from the conflict. On October 31, TikTok removed a profile believed to be linked to him.

In one video, geolocated to the far side of the berm, the commander can be seen and heard taunting a group of 10 male captives sitting lined up on the ground, forcing them to praise the RSF and denigrate the military before they are shot.

In another video filmed to the west of the convoy, Abu Lulu can be heard questioning a wounded man lying on the ground, threatening sexual violence before shooting him at point-blank range. In a third video filmed meters away, the same commander can be seen standing among a number of motionless bodies as he repeatedly fires into them.

In several other videos, one fleeing vehicle appears to have crossed the berm before becoming stuck in the trench on the far side. In one of these videos, filmed from inside the trench, a fighter can be seen firing into a group of motionless bodies on the ground next to the car, while others film and celebrate.

Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, stated that if the images were genuine, these were unlawful killings under International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, and International Criminal Law.

"Under the former they correspond to extrajudicial or arbitrary executions; under IHL they correspond to war crimes and under the latter they may amount to crimes against humanity in view of the number of victims and the seemingly planned and systematic nature of the killings," he said.

Tidball-Binz added that he was not aware of any steps taken by RSF command or relevant authorities to investigate these incidents or hold those responsible accountable. "So far impunity has prevailed," he stated via email.

Footage from October 30 shows Abu Lulu in RSF custody, being transported under heavy guard and later incarcerated in Shala Prison on the western edge of the city. The RSF announced an investigation into "violations" committed by fighters following the capture of Al Fashir.

Other open-source data also documented evidence of atrocities within the city itself. In a chapter of a detailed report entitled "evidence of mass killings," satellite imagery analysis by Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab from October 27 found what it said were "objects consistent with the size of human bodies on the ground near RSF vehicles" and "instances of reddish earth discoloration."

The UN Security Council condemned the assault by the RSF on Al Fashir and "its devastating impact on the civilian population."

The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan expressed "grave alarm at escalating atrocities" detailing "a devastating pattern of atrocities by both warring parties" that include "war crimes of violence to life and person." The mission's initial findings pointed to "a deliberate pattern of ethnically targeted executions of unarmed civilians, assaults, sexual violence, widespread looting and destruction of vital infrastructure, and mass forced displacement."

The RSF now controls the entire Darfur region.