Sudanese Militia Group Agrees to Ceasefire Amid War Crimes Accusations

A Sudanese paramilitary group, accused of committing atrocities against unarmed civilians in an ethnically motivated attack, has agreed to a temporary ceasefire. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under scrutiny for suspected war crimes in El Fasher, stated they accepted a ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ suggested by the United States, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The truce, intended to last for three months across Sudan, might be perceived as a strategic move by the RSF to redirect focus from the El Fasher incident. Satellite images revealing RSF members allegedly burying bodies in mass graves emerged just hours before the ceasefire announcement. Collaborating with the UAE, a key supporter of the RSF, in the ceasefire further stirred controversy as the UAE has been accused of supplying weapons for previous RSF operations. Despite such allegations, the UAE denies involvement, contradicting claims presented in UN reports. Although agreeing to the ceasefire, the RSF shows no sign of halting their ongoing conflict with Sudan’s military forces. The government, aligned with the military, has expressed intentions to continue the fight post an internal meeting regarding a US-proposed ceasefire. As the ceasefire news broke, Darfur faced more distressing reports. The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab revealed that the RSF is engaging in what appears to be systematic disposal of bodies, creating mass graves in various locations around El Fasher. The actual death toll from the massacre remains uncertain, but Avaaz, an activist group, estimates tens of thousands of civilians have perished. The International Criminal Court has initiated an investigation into reported mass killings, sexual assaults, and other grave offenses in El Fasher, gathering evidence from witnesses. Eye witnesses recount terrifying acts of violence, including house-to-house killings and widespread sexual violence by RSF forces. In further disturbing events, gunmen attacked a hospital in El Fasher, resulting in the deaths of at least 460 individuals, along with the abduction of medical staff. Efforts are underway to bring the RSF and Sudan’s army to the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia in hopes of reaching a long-term peace agreement.