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Hundreds of families sought refuge in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, on June 15. The city had been devastated by violence, with destroyed buildings covered in racist graffiti and streets scattered with corpses. Following the execution and mutilation of the state governor by Arab militia groups, civilians had no choice but to flee.

Eyewitnesses described the events that followed as a gruesome massacre, believed to be one of the most violent incidents in the history of the region. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group, and its allied militias hunted down non-Arab people in different parts of the city and the surrounding desert region. As they tried to escape, hundreds were killed. CNN analyzed videos, photographs, and satellite imagery to gather evidence, along with testimonies from eyewitnesses and survivors.

Residents of southern El Geneina attempted to reach the nearby Sudanese military headquarters for safety but were met with attacks by the RSF. Some were summarily executed in the streets, while others died in a mass drowning incident or were ambushed near Chad’s border. According to one local humanitarian worker, more than 1,000 people were killed on June 15. Five mass graves were established for the dead.

The true toll of the massacre is difficult to verify independently due to limited access to the city. However, testimonies from body collectors, aid organizations, doctors, and survivors provide clues. The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which started in April, has driven over a million people to seek refuge in neighboring countries.

A telecommunications blackout and the departure of international aid groups have isolated Darfur from the outside world. News of the June 15 massacre began to emerge from refugees who fled to Chad. CNN’s investigation reveals a campaign of indiscriminate killings and sexual violence carried out by the RSF and its allies under a curtain of secrecy.

Darfur has experienced decades of ethnic cleansing, with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the leader of the RSF, at its forefront. Teaming up with Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Dagalo waged war against a democratic movement that ousted former dictator Omar al-Bashir. Darfur became a flashpoint in the conflict, with intensified violence and control consolidation efforts by the RSF.

The violence in West Darfur highlights the urgent need for international attention and aid. The atrocities committed on June 15 were among the worst in Darfur’s history, and the situation continues to escalate. It is vital that the international community takes action to address the ongoing crisis and protect civilian lives.

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