As dawn broke over El Fasher on October 27, 2025, Aboud Khater raced through the desert in a pistachio green Toyota Land Cruiser, leading the last evacuation convoy from the city. Behind him, smoke billowed from the historic capital of Darfur, which was on the brink of Collapse. Thousands of civilians had already lost their lives during the RSF's relentless siege, marking an unprecedented chapter of violence in Sudan's ongoing conflict. This comprehensive guide covers heroism, horror and the ‘pits of hell’: inside the last days of el fasher in detail.
Understanding Heroism, Horror And The ‘pits Of Hell’: Inside The Last Days Of El Fasher
At 5:45 a.m., Khater pressed the accelerator as the sun rose, illuminating a city ravaged by violence. He was acutely aware that El Fasher would fall within hours; it had suffered the deadliest period of violence this century, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unleashing a brutal campaign against both government troops and civilians alike. The RSF's siege had lasted 18 long months, culminating in a horrific wave of killings. Originally reported by The Guardian.
Khater, 53, led a convoy of 40 vehicles, including General Emam Doud, who, despite being gravely injured, was conscious enough to recognize the dire situation at hand. "I was shocked how intensely the RSF was hitting us. They were throwing everything at us: kamikaze drones, bombs," Doud recounted. As the convoy sped away, drones began tracking their movements, increasing the urgency of their escape.
The Descent into the 'Pits of Hell'
The journey ahead was perilous. Khater and his team faced the "pits of hell," which were manmade trenches designed to trap and kill those caught within. Doud described these trenches as a death sentence: "No vehicle or human can get out. Everything trapped inside is killed by the RSF." Their fateful withdrawal was anticipated by Western intelligence agencies, but internal warnings were largely ignored. Reports predicting mass atrocities were seemingly discarded by both the U.S. and U.K. governments.
"The killings at El Fasher were probably the most explicitly anticipated mass atrocity event ever," a source indicated. Despite this, the international community failed to intervene, raising critical questions about the responsibilities of nations to protect civilians in conflict zones.
Chaos and Carnage: A Day of Horror
The situation escalated dramatically on October 26. At 3 a.m., Khater observed rising panic among troops retreating from the city's defenses, knowing that the RSF had gained control of the 6th Infantry headquarters. Communications had collapsed, leaving commanders across Sudan scrambling for information. "Eventually we accepted that El Fasher was alone," Khater noted. The RSF's technological advantage rendered the city's defensive drones inactive, leaving its inhabitants vulnerable.
By 7 a.m., Dr. Mustafa Ibrahim, a surgeon in the last operational hospital, faced chaos as rockets struck nearby. He and his colleagues worked under duress, knowing that medical staff were prime targets for the RSF. "I changed into my lucky cream sweater, a gift from my fiancée," he recalled, a small comfort amid the surrounding terror. Civilians were being gunned down in the streets, with reports of 70 people killed near the al-Haykal building alone.
The Aftermath: A Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds
Throughout the day, Khater's forces faced overwhelming odds. He retreated to the university's north-west corner, urging terrified residents to join the evacuation. Tragically, stragglers fell victim to point-blank shootings, including disabled children. "They were killing everyone," Doud said, reflecting the sheer brutality of the RSF's assault.
Estimates suggest that between October 26 and October 27, as many as 10,000 individuals were massacred in El Fasher, with at least 40,000 others reported missing. The governor of Darfur lamented the staggering human cost of the RSF's offensive, drawing parallels to previous genocides in the region. The international community's response, or lack thereof, has drawn ire, especially regarding the UAE's alleged support for the RSF.
As the dust settles on this horrific chapter in Sudan's history, the world is left grappling with the implications of its inaction. El Fasher's fall not only signifies a tragic loss of life but also a deepening humanitarian crisis that demands urgent global attention.
Originally reported by The Guardian. View original.