Satellite Imagery Reveals Suspected Mass Killings After RSF Seizes El‑Fasher

Post by : Raina Nasser

High-resolution satellite imagery recently released by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) provides stark new evidence of violence in Darfur following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) takeover of El‑Fasher. The visuals point to possible mass fatalities, large-scale destruction of housing, and population displacement after the city fell on October 26.

Images captured days after the takeover show darkened and burned building footprints, disturbances in soil consistent with recent interments, and objects on the ground near RSF vehicles that analysts say match the dimensions of human remains. HRL notes intensified clearance operations in the Daraja Oula area, where hundreds of civilians had sheltered not long before the RSF advance.

Sudan’s confrontation between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF began in April 2023 amid a breakdown in plans to integrate the two forces. The fighting has since escalated into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.

United Nations tallies estimate the crisis has resulted in more than 40,000 deaths and forced nearly 12 million people from their homes.

Bloodshed Visible from Space

In its Monday report, HRL outlines patterns in the imagery that indicate systematic violence. Analysts identified RSF formations and vehicles positioned across residential zones and located areas where the soil displays a reddish discoloration and recent upheaval—features the team links to potential burial activity.

"The imagery contains objects consistent with the size and placement of human bodies near RSF assets," the HRL assessment states, adding that some sectors bear the hallmarks of coordinated house‑to‑house operations.

One heavily affected sector sits near Al Safiya Mosque, which was struck in a drone attack on September 19 with an estimated 78 fatalities. The mosque’s vicinity, long used as shelter for displaced families, shows clear signs of damage in the satellite record.

Civilians Flee RSF-Controlled Camps

The HRL imagery also tracks large movements of people attempting to escape the violence. Clusters are visible along the B26 route progressing toward the Zamzam internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, now reportedly under RSF control and functioning as an operational hub.

Humanitarian agencies and eyewitnesses have corroborated accounts of killings during flight and incidents of looting targeting aid deliveries, heightening concern over civilian protection in the region.

RSF Seizes Major Military Installations

Satellite observations confirm the RSF’s capture of the Sixth Division headquarters in El‑Fasher. The facility shows heavy structural damage, and RSF equipment is present on site, consistent with a decisive takeover of the military compound.

HRL’s analysis points to near‑total RSF dominance across Darfur, with scant evidence of organized SAF resistance remaining in key localities.

A Nation on the Brink

The conflict’s toll is reflected in collapsed urban districts, blocked humanitarian corridors, and outbreaks of hunger and disease. Despite repeated international appeals for a ceasefire and negotiated resolution, hostilities persist and civilian suffering deepens.

As forensic satellite assessments mount, international actors face increasing pressure to respond; yet for countless Sudanese civilians trapped in the fighting, immediate relief and durable safety remain elusive.