NORTH DARFUR – Emergency Lawyers have accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out what they described as a “horrific massacre” on Saturday, August 2, 2025, in the village of Garni, northwest of El Fasher. According to the group, at least 14 civilians were killed, dozens were injured, and an unknown number of people were detained. The fate of those arrested remains unknown.
In statement issued by the group, the massacre reportedly took place as victims attempted to flee the city of El Fasher, which has been under a tight siege and facing escalating battles for more than two years. Garni lies along a critical route connecting the northern countryside to El Fasher. it serves as a key supply point and, according to the statement, has faced “strict restrictions” imposed by the RSF since May 2025. These measures have included a ban on movement, the blocking of supply entry, and the disruption of humanitarian aid deliveries, making it one of the most dangerous crossing points for displaced people escaping the city.
The Emergency Lawyers said the killing in Garni “comes within the context of escalating grave violations against civilians in North Darfur.” They added that such crimes are taking place alongside a “Systematic propaganda campaign” designed to portray El Fasher residents as supporters of fighters. This, the group said, is used to justify targeting them and “turning them into military objectives.”
In its statement, the group held the RSF fully responsible for enforcing a siege and starvation policy on hundreds of thousands of civilians in El Fasher. They warned that his blockade has led to the collapse of health services, the spread of disease, and severe malnutrition, “especially among children.”
The Emergency Lawyers called for those responsible for “planning, implementing, and justifying the siege” to be held accountable, describing it as “a crime of starvation.” They emphasized the need to ensure there is no impunity for such actions. The group also urged the international community to intervene immediately to open safe corridors for civilians and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. They stressed “the need to respect international humanitarian law in all conflict areas.”
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has been under an intense RSF siege for more than a year. The blockade has contributed to a catastrophic humanitarian situation, forcing mass displacement from the city and nearby IDP camps. With routes like the one through Garni effectively sealed off, residents and displaced families have faced mounting dangers in any attempt to escape.
The Garni incident underscores a broader pattern of alleged atrocities committed during the ongoing war, which began in April 2023. As civilians in El Fasher struggle with dwindling food supplies, collapsing healthcare, and worsening insecurity, human rights advocates warn that such attacks are likely to persist unless international action is taken a break the siege and protect civilians.
The Emergency Lawyers’ statement concluded with an appeal for urgent global attention: the people of El Fasher, they said, cannot survive under these conditions without immediate relief and protection from further violations.
