Beijing, November 3, 2025 – In a strongly worded statement delivered during a routine press briefing on Monday, China's Foreign Ministry unequivocally condemned the wave of violence against civilians in Sudan following the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces' (RSF) seizure of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. Spokeswoman Mao Ning described the acts as unacceptable breaches of humanitarian norms, emphasizing Beijing's close monitoring of the escalating crisis.
"China closely follows the situation in Sudan and condemns acts of violence against civilians," Mao told reporters in the Chinese capital. She urged all parties to prioritize de-escalation, stating, "We hope Sudan will end the conflict as soon as possible, ease the humanitarian crisis, resume the political process at an early date, and restore peace, stability, reconstruction, and development." This marks one of Beijing's most direct interventions in the Sudanese conflict since the RSF's offensive intensified in late October, reflecting China's growing stake in regional stability amid its investments in Sudanese oil and infrastructure.
The condemnation comes amid verified reports of mass atrocities in El Fasher, a city of strategic importance that had been under RSF siege for over 18 months. On October 26, RSF fighters overran the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) last stronghold in Darfur, capturing the city's Sixth Infantry Division headquarters and effectively partitioning Sudan along ethnic and territorial lines. What followed was a campaign of terror: door-to-door executions, ethnic targeting of non-Arab communities, sexual violence, and the slaughter of patients in hospitals. Human Rights Watch documented dozens of videos showing RSF fighters committing extrajudicial killings of fleeing civilians, with geolocated footage revealing bodies strewn along escape routes and berms encircling the city.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture. Survivors fleeing to nearby Tawila described RSF militiamen—many on camels or motorbikes—intercepting convoys, demanding ransoms of up to 10 million Sudanese pounds (approximately $12,000), and executing those unable to pay. "They crushed prisoners under vehicles and shouted racial slurs," one displaced man told aid workers. Women and girls faced systematic rape, with reports of attacks in broad daylight. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the massacre at the Saudi Maternity Hospital, where at least 460 patients, companions, and staff were gunned down—the fourth assault on the facility in a month. Satellite imagery from Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab revealed clusters of bodies and blood-soaked ground, corroborating claims of "genocide by all legal standards."
The Sudan Doctors Network, a UK-based monitoring group, reported at least 1,500 killings in the three days following the takeover, labeling it "a true genocide" and an extension of earlier massacres that claimed over 14,000 lives in El Fasher through bombing, starvation, and executions. SAF-aligned Joint Forces accused the RSF of over 2,000 civilian deaths, while the UN Human Rights Office received "alarming reports" of summary executions with ethnic motivations. Hundreds remain detained, including aid workers; five Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers were killed in nearby Bara, which fell to the RSF on October 25.
RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, broke silence on October 30, admitting "violations" by his forces in a video address. "I have observed abuses in El Fasher," he said, announcing investigation committees and pledging accountability for any soldier or officer involved. He expressed regret for the "hell on Earth" endured by residents during the 550-day siege and rejected accusations of intent to divide Sudan. However, skeptics, including UN officials, dismissed the promises as cosmetic, noting the RSF's history of impunity. The paramilitary, evolved from the Janjaweed militias responsible for the 2003–2005 Darfur genocide (300,000 deaths), has been accused by the US of ongoing genocide against non-Arab groups.
The fall of El Fasher consolidates RSF control over one-third of Sudan, including all five Darfur state capitals, deepening the country's de facto partition. SAF holds the east and north, having recaptured Khartoum in March 2025. Analysts warn of intensified fighting in Kordofan, where RSF advances threaten further fragmentation.
Humanitarian fallout is catastrophic. Over 62,000 fled El Fasher in the first week, many on foot to overcrowded camps like Tawila (home to 650,000 displaced). Aid agencies report a "complete blackout" of information, with communications severed and roads mined. Famine grips Darfur, exacerbated by siege-induced starvation; cholera outbreaks have killed hundreds. The UN describes Sudan as the world's worst humanitarian crisis: 30.4 million in need, 14 million displaced (11.3 million internally, 3.5 million refugees), and acute malnutrition affecting 4 million children. Total war deaths exceed 150,000, per estimates, with 40,000 in the past year alone.
International outrage has mounted. The UN Security Council condemned the RSF assault, invoking Resolution 2736 demanding a siege lift and civilian protection. China's UN deputy, Geng Shuang, echoed Mao's briefing, decrying "shocking" atrocities and urging an end to violence. The US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, France, and others slammed the killings, with calls for humanitarian corridors and arms embargo enforcement. Arab nations like Qatar and Turkiye demanded truces. Yet mediation efforts—Jeddah talks, Quad roadmap—have collapsed amid external backing: UAE allegedly arms the RSF, while Egypt and others support SAF.
The war's roots trace to April 15, 2023, when rivalry between SAF leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Hemedti exploded after a failed power-sharing deal post-2021 coup. Both sides stand accused of war crimes; the International Criminal Court probes Darfur atrocities.
As winter approaches, aid shortfalls loom—WHO warns of scaled-back food aid. Displaced families in Tawila sleep under open skies, begging for water and medicine. "No one is safe," UN officials warn, fearing a repeat of Geneina's 2023 massacre (15,000 dead). China's call for peace aligns with global pleas, but without enforced ceasefires and accountability, Sudan's descent into deeper chaos seems inexorable. For millions, survival hangs on fleeting hope amid unrelenting horror.
