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Combatants smirk as they ride on the back of a transport truck, hurrying past a series of several dead bodies and driving towards the setting African sunset.

"See this extensive effort. See this instance of ethnic cleansing," one cheers.

The individual beams as he directs the camera on his own face and his companion militiamen, their paramilitary badges visible: "The victims will all perish in this manner."

These individuals are rejoicing over a mass killing that aid workers suspect killed more than thousands of individuals in the Sudanese city of el-Fasher last month.

A City Isolated from the World

After maintaining the city under blockade for nearly 24 months, from late summer the paramilitary force moved to consolidate its position and blockade the remaining residents.

Satellite images demonstrate that forces started to erect a massive berm - a built-up sand barrier - around the perimeter of al-Fashir, blocking access routes and preventing relief supplies.

While the blockade intensified, 78 civilians were slain in an RSF assault on a mosque on September 19th, while the international organization said dozens more were murdered in drone and artillery attacks on a refugee settlement in the autumn.

Graphic Footage Reveals Unarmed Individuals Executed

By sunrise on 26 October the militia defeated the last government positions and captured the central compound in the city, the main facility of the Military Unit, as the military withdrew.

Perhaps the most disturbing videos to appear and analysed showed the results of a mass killing at a university building on the western side of the urban area, where scores dead bodies were visible spread across the area.

An older individual clad in a robe was seated by himself amid the corpses. The man rotated to look as a fighter carrying with a rifle moved down the stairs in the direction of him. pointing his weapon, the fighter fired a solitary bullet at the man, who collapsed to the floor motionless.

"For what reason is this one still breathing," another fighter shouted. "Shoot him."

Orbital photography taken on late October indicated to substantiate that executions were additionally performed on the streets of the city, based on a analysis published by the academic research center.

A key observer who provided testimony reported he had witnessed "many of our relatives being killed - these individuals were assembled in a specific area and all killed."

Militia Leaders Try to Conduct Damage Control

During the period that came after the massacre, militia chief acknowledged that his troops had perpetrated "wrongdoings" and stated the incidents would be investigated.

Included among arrested was after a analysis recording his executions. Carefully orchestrated and produced footage published on the paramilitary's authorized Telegram account reveal the commander being led into a cell at a prison on the perimeter of al-Fashir.

Meanwhile, the RSF and associated social media channels began seeking to reframe the story.

Posts presenting its combatants distributing assistance to residents were shared by some individuals, while the militia's media office shared several videos allegedly to demonstrate the humane management of government prisoners of war.

Despite the social media initiative being used by the militia, their activities in al-Fashir have sparked worldwide condemnation.