Sudan (Darfur)
From 2003 Sudan's government and the Janjaweed militias it armed attacked Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa villages in Darfur; the UN estimated up to 300,000 deaths and over a million people were driven into camps. Mosques were burned and worshippers killed inside them. The ICC charged President Omar al-Bashir with genocide and in 2025 convicted militia leader Ali Kushayb. Since April 2023 the Rapid Support Forces, grown out of the Janjaweed, and allied militias have again massacred Masalit in El Geneina (10,000–15,000 killed, UN panel) and, after an 18-month siege, killed over 6,000 people in three days when they took El Fasher in October 2025. The war has displaced about 12 million people.
Key numbers
Who is responsible
The government of Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese army and the Janjaweed militias in 2003–2020 (ICC: Bashir, Ahmed Haroun, Ali Kushayb); since 2023 the Rapid Support Forces under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) and allied Arab militias, which the US determined in January 2025 committed genocide; also Sudanese Armed Forces air strikes.
Timeline
- 2003 Darfur war: villages burned, 65+ mosques burned in Dar Masalit
- 2004 Over a million displaced; executions in Wadi Salih
- 2009 ICC arrest warrant for President al-Bashir
- 2010 ICC adds genocide charge
- 2023 RSF war; El Geneina and Ardamata massacres of Masalit
- 2024 RSF siege of El Fasher begins
- 2025 US genocide determination; Zamzam overrun; El Fasher falls (6,000+ killed in 3 days); ICC convicts Kushayb
Records (17)
Darfur: killings 2003 onwards
Government forces and the Janjaweed militias they armed attacked Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa villages. The UN estimated up to 300,000 people were killed in the Darfur conflict; Sudan's government called that inflated. The ICC issued a genocide arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir in 2010.
≤300,000 killed
Source: Al Jazeera (UN estimate) · Human Rights Watch
Darfur: villages burned, people driven out
By May 2004 more than one million civilians had been driven into camps inside Darfur and over 110,000 had fled to Chad; hundreds of villages were burned.
1,110,000 displaced
Mulli market attack
Human Rights Watch recorded 43 people killed in the attack on Mulli market, many of them in a mosque.
43 killed
Bindisi attack
A militia led by Ali Kushayb attacked Bindisi for five days, killing more than 100 people including 30 children; 47 villages in the area were destroyed by April 2004. The ICC convicted Kushayb in 2025 and sentenced him to 20 years.
100 killed
Source: Wikipedia: Ali Kushayb · Human Rights Watch: Darfur Destroyed
Mosques burned in Dar Masalit
Human Rights Watch documented at least 65 mosques burned in Dar Masalit; worshippers and imams were killed inside mosques at Urum, Mulli and Kondoli, and Qurans were torn up.
65 mosques & sacred places destroyed
Murnei area killings
Human Rights Watch recorded 82 people killed in 12 villages around Murnei in one day.
82 killed
Wadi Salih executions
Human Rights Watch found at least 145 Fur men were executed in the Wadi Salih area in one day.
145 killed
Masalit driven into Chad
More than half a million refugees fled West Darfur into Chad after April 2023; by late October 75% of them were from El Geneina.
500,000 displaced
Source: Human Rights Watch
Sudan war displacement
The war between the RSF and the Sudanese army since April 2023 has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 12 million people.
12,000,000 displaced
Source: Al Jazeera (UN)
Massacres of Masalit in El Geneina
The RSF and allied Arab militias killed at least thousands of mostly Masalit people in El Geneina from April to November 2023, peaking with the attack on a fleeing convoy on 15 June. A UN Panel of Experts estimated 10,000–15,000 killed. HRW called it ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
10,000–15,000 killed
Source: Human Rights Watch: The Massalit Will Not Come Home · Human Rights Watch
Misterei massacre
RSF fighters and allied militias attacked the Masalit town of Misterei; HRW recorded at least 40 civilians killed, local officials said 97, and at least 59 were buried in mass graves.
40–97 killed
Source: Human Rights Watch
Ardamata massacre
After taking the army base at Ardamata, the RSF besieged the nearby displacement camp. The UN said at least 1,000 civilians were killed; local monitors told Al Jazeera about 1,300 were killed and 310 missing.
1,000–1,300 killed
Source: Al Jazeera · Human Rights Watch: The Massalit Will Not Come Home
Siege of El Fasher
The RSF besieged El Fasher from May 2024 with regular shelling of homes, alongside army air strikes. The UN human rights office documented at least 782 civilians killed by December 2024; famine was confirmed in the city in November 2025.
782 killed
Source: Al Jazeera (UN OHCHR)
Zamzam camp offensive
In three days the RSF overran Zamzam displacement camp near El Fasher, where famine had been declared; the UN human rights office says RSF fighters killed over 1,000 civilians, including people trying to flee.
1,000 killed
Source: UN OHCHR
Al-Safiya mosque drone strike
An RSF drone struck worshippers at dawn prayer in al-Safiya mosque in El Fasher, killing more than 70; the army put the toll above 75.
70–75 killed
Source: Al Jazeera
Mass killings at the fall of El Fasher
When the RSF took El Fasher, the UN human rights office documented over 6,000 people killed in three days (25–27 Oct): at least 4,400 in the city and 1,600 on the roads out, often targeting Zaghawa and other 'non-Arab' people. Early counts were 1,500 (Sudan Doctors Network) and 2,000 (Sudan government); Yale HRL satellite images showed clusters consistent with bodies.
6,000 killed
Source: UN OHCHR · Al Jazeera · Al Jazeera (Yale HRL)
Killings at the Saudi Maternity Hospital
The WHO said more than 460 patients and companions were reportedly shot dead at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in El Fasher; six health workers were abducted.
460–500 killed