Doctors report ethnic killings and cholera outbreak in RSF El Fasher detention centres

April 27, 2026 (EL FASHER) – Sudanese doctors have reported systemic, ethnically motivated killings and a devastating cholera outbreak within detention centres run by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, North Darfur.

The RSF seized control of the historic Darfur capital on October 26, 2025, after an 18-month siege. Since the takeover, rights groups have documented widespread abuses, including summary executions, looting, and sexual violence.

A report by the Sudan Doctors Network covering January to April 2026 found that hundreds of civilians, including women and children, remain in custody. The group alleged that detainees face torture, interrogation, and execution based on their ethnicity.

According to data collected by the network, the RSF is currently holding approximately 907 military prisoners and 1,470 civilian detainees. The civilians include 426 children and 370 women, held at sites including Shala Prison, the pediatric hospital, the land port, and inside shipping containers.

Survivors told the network that 16 civilians were executed on an ethnic basis at El Fasher University in February after being accused of links to the regular army. Many detainees are reportedly suffering from untreated wounds caused by shelling.

Health conditions in the facilities have reached a breaking point, with the report documenting a cholera outbreak that began in February. An estimated five to 10 deaths are recorded weekly due to a lack of medical care, with the total death toll from the disease exceeding 300 over two months.

Deteriorating environmental conditions, a lack of clean water, and acute malnutrition have accelerated the spread of disease. The report noted that bodies are often left in detention areas for extended periods before other detainees are forced to bury them.

The medical sector in El Fasher has largely collapsed due to a severe shortage of staff and supplies. The RSF has detained at least 22 doctors, including four women, according to the report.