'Our Mission Consists of Only Killing' - How The Sudanese Ruthless Fighting Force Perpetrated a Massacre

Caution: This Story Contains Explicit Accounts of Killings.

Fighters chuckle as they move on the back of a utility vehicle, hurrying past a line of nine lifeless forms and driving towards the sinking Sudanese sunset.

"See such accomplishment. Look at this act of ethnic cleansing," one shouts.

He smiles as he directs the video equipment on himself and his associate militiamen, their RSF badges on display: "The victims will all die this way."

The combatants are celebrating a massacre that aid workers fear claimed the lives of in excess of 2,000 people in the African metropolis of el-Fasher during October.

A City Severed from the Globe

After maintaining the urban area under siege for approximately an extended period, from the summer the militia moved to strengthen its position and blockade the remaining civilian population.

Satellite images show that forces commenced to construct a massive earth barrier - a built-up sand barrier - surrounding the perimeter of al-Fashir, sealing off roads and blocking aid.

While the blockade intensified, multiple individuals were killed in an militia assault on a place of worship on 19 September, while the UN said dozens further were murdered in unmanned aircraft and heavy weapon strikes on a refugee settlement in October.

Explicit Footage Reveals Weaponless Civilians Shot

At dawn on October 26th the RSF overwhelmed the last army strongholds and seized the main headquarters in the community, the main facility of the Military Unit, as the government forces retreated.

Perhaps the most disturbing footage to appear and analysed depicted the aftermath of a mass killing at a university building on the western side of the urban area, where scores dead bodies were seen spread throughout the floor.

An elderly person wearing a traditional garment was seated alone surrounded by the victims. The man turned to look as a fighter armed with a weapon moved descending the stairs towards the individual. Raising his firearm, the gunman fired a one bullet at the individual, who fell to the floor still.

"How come is this individual still breathing," another fighter shouted. "Shoot this one."

Space-based imagery taken on late October appeared to confirm that shootings were additionally conducted on the thoroughfares of the city, as reported by a study published by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab.

A key witness who communicated reported they had witnessed "multiple of our family members getting executed - the victims were gathered in a specific area and all murdered."

Militia Leaders Seek to Carry Out Public Relations

In the days that came after the killings, RSF chief admitted that his troops had perpetrated "violations" and announced the incidents would be looked into.

Included among apprehended was after a analysis documenting his executions. Deliberately orchestrated and edited footage shared on the paramilitary's authorized Telegram account show the commander being taken into a prison room at a prison on the edges of al-Fashir.

Meanwhile, the RSF and associated social media accounts commenced attempting to reshape the account.

Posts depicting its combatants providing assistance to inhabitants were shared by various users, while the militia's media office shared multiple videos claiming to demonstrate the humane management of government prisoners of war.

Despite the social media campaign being employed by the RSF, their activities in the city have provoked global condemnation.

Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith

A gaming technology analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine design and industry regulation, passionate about innovation.