This is the first time, however, that it has reached a conclusion on genocide, the most serious crime under international law.

Rishmawi says el-Fasher has witnessed a more severe form of criminality than earlier RSF campaigns in Darfur, which had also prompted determinations of genocide from human rights groups and the US government.

“In places like Nyala and el-Geneina, there was widespread killing. But in our assessment, there seemed to be an intention to push the Massalit out,” she explained, referring to the non-Arab communities previously targeted by the RSF, whose fighters mostly come from the Arab tribes of western Sudan and Chad. “There was a lot of rape and killings on the way, but not at this level.