Our Task Consists of Solely Executing' - The Way Sudan's Brutal Fighting Force Perpetrated a Massacre

Warning: This Story Presents Graphic Details of Killings.

Fighters laugh as they ride on the bed of a transport truck, speeding alongside a line of several dead bodies and moving towards the sinking African evening sky.

"Look at this extensive accomplishment. See this act of ethnic cleansing," a combatant exclaims.

The fighter beams as he directs the recording device on his person and his fellow combatants, their paramilitary badges visible: "The victims shall all be killed like this."

The combatants are celebrating a mass killing that aid workers believe killed over two thousand civilians in the African urban center of el-Fasher in recent weeks.

An Urban Center Isolated from the World

After maintaining the community under encirclement for nearly two years, from August the paramilitary force moved to reinforce its dominance and restrict the surviving civilian population.

Satellite images show that fighters began to erect a immense earth barrier - a raised earthen wall - around the perimeter of el-Fasher, blocking entry points and halting relief supplies.

During the encirclement escalated, seventy-eight civilians were killed in an paramilitary assault on a place of worship on September 19th, while the United Nations reported 53 more were murdered in drone and cannon strikes on a refugee settlement in fall.

Disturbing Footage Shows Unarmed Individuals Shot

By sunrise on 26 October the paramilitary force conquered the remaining military positions and seized the primary base in the city, the main facility of the Military Unit, as the army retreated.

One of the most graphic footage to appear and analysed showed the consequences of a massacre at a campus structure on the western of the urban area, where scores lifeless forms were visible strewn over the ground.

An elderly individual clad in a robe sat by himself amongst the bodies. He turned to look as a combatant equipped with a firearm walked down the staircase in the direction of him. pointing his rifle, the fighter released a single shot at the individual, who dropped to the ground motionless.

"Why is this person yet living," a fighter shouted. "Execute this person."

Satellite images taken on 26 October indicated to confirm that killings were also performed on the roads of el-Fasher, based on a report released by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab.

One observer who communicated said he had seen "many of our family members getting executed - these individuals were gathered in one place and each one murdered."

RSF Commanders Attempt to Conduct Reputation Management

In the days that came after the atrocity, paramilitary leader conceded that his forces had perpetrated "violations" and said the occurrences would be examined.

Among those arrested was after a analysis documenting his killings. Meticulously choreographed and modified video published on the militia's formal social media platform reveal the individual being escorted into a cell at a prison on the outskirts of al-Fashir.

Meanwhile, the paramilitary force and affiliated social media channels commenced seeking to alter the story.

Content showing its fighters distributing assistance to residents were disseminated by several accounts, while the paramilitary's public relations unit released numerous videos allegedly to display the proper management of government detainees.

Despite the online initiative being employed by the militia, their actions in the city have generated international outrage.

John Price
John Price

Wildlife biologist and photographer specializing in sloth behavior and rainforest ecosystems, with over a decade of field research experience.