Yale Report Uncovers RSF Campaign to Conceal Mass Killings in el-Fasher

A groundbreaking report from Yale University has uncovered a deliberate campaign by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to conceal evidence of mass atrocities committed in the city of el-Fasher. According to research from the Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), the paramilitary group systematically worked to erase traces of killings through the burial, burning, and removal of human remains over several weeks. This discovery sheds new light on the brutal tactics employed in Sudan's devastating civil war and raises serious questions about accountability for potential war crimes.

The Yale Investigation and Findings

The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab conducted a detailed analysis of events in el-Fasher between October 26 and November 28, 2025. Researchers utilized multiple data sources, including satellite imagery, open-source information, local news reporting, and remote sensing data. Their investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of evidence destruction following the RSF's capture of el-Fasher, which had been the Sudanese Armed Forces' last stronghold in North Darfur after an 18-month siege.

According to the report, the RSF engaged in what researchers termed "a systematic multi-week campaign to destroy evidence of its mass killings through burial, burning, and removal of human remains on a mass scale." The Yale team identified clusters of objects consistent with human remains in and around el-Fasher. By November 28, they observed that in 72 percent of these incidents, the clusters had decreased in size, while 38 percent were no longer visible at all—clear indicators of an organized effort to conceal the scale of killings.

Context of the el-Fasher Massacre

The destruction of evidence followed what monitoring groups described as a massacre in el-Fasher. According to reports cited by Yale researchers, at least 1,500 people were killed in the 48 hours after the RSF took control of the city on October 26, 2025. The violence targeted civilians attempting to flee the city and those seeking refuge in the Daraja Oula neighborhood. The RSF's campaign included multiple patterns of killings: targeting people as they fled attacks, conducting door-to-door and execution-style killings, mass killings at detention sites, and violence at military installations.

This violence occurred within the broader context of Sudan's civil war, which began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF. The conflict has created what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands have been killed, more than 13 million people are displaced, and at least 30 million require vital humanitarian assistance.

Patterns of Evidence Destruction

The Yale report documents specific methods used by the RSF to conceal evidence of their actions. Researchers recorded "at least 20 instances of burning objects and 8 instances of disturbed earth" consistent with mass burial sites. The systematic nature of this evidence destruction suggests a coordinated effort rather than random or incidental actions. This pattern of behavior complicates international efforts to document war crimes and human rights violations, as physical evidence is deliberately removed or altered.

The RSF's origins add troubling context to these findings. The paramilitary force grew out of the Janjaweed militia, which was accused of committing genocide during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s. In the current war, the United States and other entities have accused the RSF of committing genocide, making their efforts to destroy evidence particularly concerning for accountability mechanisms.

Broader Implications and International Response

The Yale findings have significant implications for international justice and humanitarian response. Systematic evidence destruction represents a serious violation of international humanitarian law and complicates efforts to establish accurate casualty counts and identify perpetrators. Despite international condemnation, the RSF has attempted to position itself as a legitimate international actor, even announcing in June 2025 the establishment of an alternative government led by RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate. As el-Fasher fell to the RSF, the group simultaneously launched an offensive against the Kordofan region, potentially expanding its territorial control. Experts fear more massacres could occur in this fighting, citing a recent attack in South Kordofan's Kalogi that killed more than 116 people, including children. The international community faces increasing pressure to respond effectively to both the immediate humanitarian needs and the longer-term requirements for justice and accountability in Sudan.