Survivors of Sudan's Violence Share Harrowing Tales of Escape

Sat Nov 01 2025 05:26:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

First-hand accounts from those fleeing the brutal control of the RSF in Sudan reveal a landscape of horror and desperation, as thousands seek refuge from violence in el-Fasher.

In the aftermath of escalating violence in Sudan, survivors recount stories of torture and murder at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Many have fled to Tawila, where they face severe hardships. Humanitarian workers express concern for those still trapped in conflict zones, as the need for aid and secure passage becomes critical.

Shaken, scratched and left with just the clothes he is wearing, Ezzeldin Hassan Musa describes the brutality of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the wake of the paramilitary group taking control of el-Fasher city in the Darfur region.

He says its fighters tortured and murdered men trying to flee.

Now in the town of Tawila, lying exhausted on a mat under a gazebo, Ezzeldin is one of several thousand people who have made it to relative safety after escaping what the UN has described as 'horrific' violence.

On Wednesday, RSF leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo admitted to 'violations' in el-Fasher and said they would be investigated. A day later a senior UN official said the RSF had given notice that they had arrested some suspects.

About an 80km (50-mile) journey from el-Fasher, Tawila is one of several places where those lucky enough to escape the RSF fighters are fleeing to.

'We left el-Fasher four days ago. The suffering we encountered on the way was unimaginable,' Ezzeldin says.

'We were divided into groups and beaten. The scenes were extremely brutal. We saw people murdered in front of us. We saw people being beaten. It was really terrible.

'I myself was hit on the head, back, and legs. They beat me with sticks. They wanted to execute us completely. But when the opportunity arose, we ran, while others in front were detained.'

Ezzeldin and other escapees joined groups taking shelter in buildings, moving by night and sometimes crawling along the ground, trying to remain hidden.

'Our belongings were stolen,' he says. 'Phones, clothes - everything. Literally, even my shoes were stolen. Nothing was left.

'We went without food for three days while walking in the streets. By God's mercy, we made it through.'

Those in Tawila told the BBC that men making the journey were particularly likely to be subjected to scrutiny by the RSF, with fighters targeting anyone suspected of being a soldier.

Ezzeldin is one of around 5,000 people thought to have arrived in Tawila since the fall of el-Fasher on Sunday. Many have made the entire journey on foot, travelling for three or four days to flee the violence.

A freelance journalist based in Tawila has conducted interviews with many escapees, revealing their harrowing experiences.

Ahmed Ismail Ibrahim, who fled with friends, says his group faced brutality too. 'Four of them - they killed them in front of us. Beat them and killed them,' he recounts.

Yusra Ibrahim Mohamed fled after her husband, a soldier, was killed during the violence. 'People could even be executed. I saw dead bodies in the streets,' she recalls.

As thousands arrive in Tawila, humanitarian workers warn that many more remain trapped in conflict areas, lacking safe passage and basic necessities.

For Ezzeldin, the relief of safety is tempered by fears for those left behind. 'My message is that public roads should be secured for citizens,' he pleads. 'Aid should reach them because many are missing and suffering.'