In the wake of reports that the RSF has arrested a handful of its fighters for alleged summary executions in El Fasher, the move is being presented as a sign of internal accountability. But observers describe it as a strategic distraction from far wider violence unfolding in Darfur.

In the wake of reports that the RSF has arrested a handful of its fighters for alleged summary executions in El Fasher, the move is being presented as a sign of internal accountability. But observers describe it as a strategic distraction from far wider violence unfolding in Darfur.

The Context:

The RSF, a powerful paramilitary force in Sudan, recently took control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, after a long siege. 

Following the takeover, the United Nations Human Rights Office flagged multiple, credible reports of severe human-rights violations by RSF fighters - including detentions, killings of civilians, and acts consistent with summary execution. 

In response, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (also known as “Hemedti”) admitted “abuses” occurred and announced the formation of an internal investigative committee. 

The Analysis: What Most People Are Missing

• Surface accountability but limited scope. The RSF’s public acknowledgment and arrests create a veneer of responsiveness. However, many victims, rights groups and Darfur observers believe these actions cover only a small portion of alleged abuses, while the bulk remains unaddressed. This selective accountability risks being perceived as a symbolic gesture rather than substance.

• Power dynamics and credibility risk. The RSF is both the perpetrator and self-investigator in this case. When an armed actor under international scrutiny investigates itself, questions emerge about impartiality, access to evidence, and protection of witnesses. The credibility of any findings will hinge on transparency and external verification.

• Implications for ethnic and humanitarian dimensions. Reports indicate that many of the abuses in El Fasher carried ethnic undertones, targeting non-Arab communities such as Fur, Zaghawa and Berti.  Arresting individuals while systemic patterns continue could dramatise the conflict’s ethnic component without altering its drivers.

• Strategic messaging amid conflict fatigue. The RSF’s announcement arrives at a moment when global attention is shifting away from Sudan’s rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. By emphasising arrests and investigations, the RSF may be attempting to regain narrative control, deflect international pressure and manage reputational risk.

The Implications:

• For Darfur victims and communities: A genuine path to justice would require independent investigations, international oversight, witness protection and accountability that goes beyond low-level arrests. Without that, survivors may experience little meaningful redress.

• For international response and diplomacy: Donors, humanitarian agencies and diplomatic actors must assess whether the RSF’s internal measures reflect a real change or merely a public relations manoeuvre. This distinction will shape decisions on aid, sanctions and engagement with Sudan’s factions.

• For the future of the Sudan conflict: If accountability remains shallow, impunity will become entrenched. This risks not only further atrocities in Darfur, but also the erosion of norms around armed group conduct in the wider war. A credible arrest process could set a precedent, while a mock process may embolden abuses.

• For the RSF’s legitimacy and internal cohesion: If fighters see arrests as scapegoating rather than reform, internal fractures or morale issues could emerge. Conversely, genuine accountability may contribute to a transition from militia-style command to more disciplined forces, though that transition remains speculative.

Takeaway:

The real story isn’t just that the RSF is arresting some fighters; it’s whether those arrests signal a systemic shift in how the group operates - or whether they are just the RSF trying to save its face.

As one Darfuri activist put it, “arrest one commander but leave the rest walking free, and the killing field stays the same.”