New satellite images obtained by the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University have revealed what appear to be mass graves and possible ongoing executions in the city of El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, Sudan. The photos show freshly dug and later covered trenches near a mosque and a former children’s hospital, now reportedly used by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a detention center, details that match eyewitness accounts describing collective burials and extreme violence.
Since the RSF seized control of the city a few weeks ago, humanitarian organizations and human rights groups have reported a sharp increase in killings, disappearances, and forced displacements. Analysts point out that the latest satellite images confirm the scale of the humanitarian collapse and could serve as evidence of war crimes or crimes against humanity.
The situation in Darfur has been described by the United Nations as one of the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crises, with thousands killed and millions displaced since the conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF began in 2023.
What will the international community do in response to this evidence?
Experts argue that the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court must act immediately to investigate the events and protect civilians still trapped in El Fasher. The satellite images, they warn, not only expose the brutality of the conflict but also demand a global response before the tragedy escalates even further.
