The New York Times has uncovered damning evidence of war crimes committed by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has been waging a brutal war against Sudan’s national army since April 15, 2023. Through months of meticulous investigation, including analysis of videos, satellite imagery, and eyewitness accounts, the New York Times has documented a wide range of atrocities that point to a pattern of systematic violence against civilians across Sudan.
In its most extensive investigation to date, the Times’ Visual Investigations Team identified numerous war crimes committed by RSF operatives under the leadership of General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemetti. The evidence, corroborated by hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, sheds light on the scale of the violence, painting a chilling picture of how RSF forces have systematically targeted civilians, with little regard for international humanitarian law.
The investigation found that RSF militants, often identifiable by their distinctive light camouflage uniforms and turbans known as “kadmol,” have been responsible for widespread acts of ethnic cleansing, extrajudicial executions, and deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure. Satellite images, videos, and testimonies from survivors have shown evidence of mass killings, including the execution of prisoners of war, and the destruction of entire communities, particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
Systematic Attacks and Ethnic Cleansing
One of the most disturbing findings of the investigation is the apparent involvement of high-ranking RSF commanders in the orchestration of these attacks. According to the evidence gathered, commanders like Hussein Breshim, who was seen celebrating victories alongside his troops, were often found supervising mass executions. In one particularly harrowing incident filmed in October 2023, Breshim was seen standing over the bodies of 14 executed soldiers, many of whom were wearing Sudanese army uniforms, after his forces had overrun a military airport in the west of Sudan.
The Times investigation has also revealed a pattern of widespread destruction of civilian homes and villages, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan. In one case, survivors from the village of “Khitma” in North Darfur reported that RSF fighters systematically burned down their homes, looted property, and executed residents. Similar acts of terror were reported in other towns, including the villages of “Al-Sidra” and “Takama” in South Kordofan, where the RSF has been accused of deploying scorched-earth tactics.
The Role of High-Ranking Commanders
The New York Times investigation suggests that these acts were not the result of rogue RSF soldiers but part of a calculated strategy orchestrated by the leadership of the paramilitary group. Satellite images and video footage analyzed by the Times placed top commanders such as Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo himself and his close associates, including Khalid al-Tayeb, among the key figures directing these operations from afar. The presence of these commanders in areas where war crimes took place further implicates them in systematic violence.
In one particularly shocking revelation, the newspaper reported that RSF fighters in Darfur were caught on video shouting phrases that suggest ethnic cleansing, and using language that pointed to an orchestrated campaign of extermination aimed at targeting specific ethnic groups in the region.
Mass Displacement and Destruction of Livelihoods
In addition to the widespread violence, the RSF’s actions have led to the mass displacement of millions of Sudanese civilians. The United Nations has reported that over 11 million people have been forced from their homes since the conflict erupted in April 2023, with most of them fleeing to neighboring countries or seeking refuge in Sudan’s already overcrowded refugee camps. Furthermore, thousands of families have lost their livelihoods as crops and livestock have been destroyed, leaving entire communities without the means to survive.
Through collaboration with Sudan Witness Project, a UK-based non-profit, the New York Times was able to collect and verify the numerous videos that now stand as undeniable evidence of the RSF’s violent activities. The project has documented testimonies from displaced civilians and victims who describe the horror they faced when RSF militants stormed their villages, attacking civilians indiscriminately and leaving behind a trail of destruction.
International Condemnation and Calls for Accountability
The RSF’s actions have sparked outrage on the international stage, with the United Nations and human rights organizations calling for immediate intervention to stop the violence and hold perpetrators accountable. The United Nations has accused both the RSF and Sudan’s national army of committing war crimes, but it is clear from the evidence gathered by the Times that the RSF’s actions go far beyond mere violations of international law—they represent a deliberate and sustained campaign of violence against Sudanese civilians.
The Times investigation urges the international community to take urgent steps to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for these heinous crimes, including Sudan’s military leadership. With the evidence now available, human rights organizations have demanded that the International Criminal Court (ICC) launch an inquiry into the RSF’s role in the war crimes.
A Devastating Legacy of War
As the war in Sudan continues to rage, the full extent of the RSF’s war crimes is only beginning to come to light. What is already clear, however, is that this conflict has left behind a devastating legacy of destruction, suffering, and displacement. The people of Sudan are living through one of the most brutal civil wars in modern history, with widespread violations of human rights that will leave deep scars on the country for generations to come.
As the RSF’s tactics continue to unfold, the international community must take decisive action to stop the violence and hold those responsible accountable. The evidence presented by the New York Times serves as a powerful reminder of the atrocities committed in Sudan, and it is now incumbent upon the global community to ensure that justice is done for the victims of this terrible conflict.
