authorities had abandoned them and failed to fulfill their obligations to defend them. The Masalit have been left alone in the world. The Masalit will not give up their land.”44 Sarah, 44 years from El Geneina, was with her family when the armed conflict started on 15 April 2023: “When the armed conflict began in Khartoum and it spread directly to El Geneina. The attacks were relentless, resulting in the deaths of many civilians. The attacks on the Masalit people were frequent, and by the second week of the conflict, dead bodies were lying in the streets, decomposing. I saw the decomposing dead body of Mr. Tariq (the son of Masalit king), lying in the road because people were unable to bury their dead. Anyone who tried to bury the dead would be killed immediately. My family and I spent two months trapped in the siege, unable to leave due to the militias' attacks. In Dar Al-Naeem neighborhood, twelve (12) men were arrested, loaded onto a military vehicle, and taken towards the west of the city, where they were killed, and some of them were my relatives. The houses of Masalit people were burned and completely looted by the Janjaweed. This led to civilians fleeing to Ardamata and others fled to Chad, where we arrived in poor physical and psychological condition.”45 Salih, 43 years. He is a community leader and has been in exile for more than ten years. He is one of the Masalit figures wanted by the RSF.46 “For nearly two months (April–June 2023), the RSF launched daily attacks against communities - particularly the Masalit - forcing people out of their homes, villages, and IDP camps across West Darfur State. They specifically targeted community leaders, politicians, activists, and educated individuals whose names appeared on RSF’s secret lists. By June and July 2023, the Masalit community and other Black African tribal groups (accused of supporting or cooperating with the Masalit) were subjected to intense pressure and violence. As a result, they fled to Chad in search of safety and are now living in refugee camps in eastern Chad. 44 Interview with Haroun, WhatsApp records, 6 th November 2025. Interview with Sarah, WhatsApp records, 31st October 2025. 46 RSF created a list of wanted Masalit community leaders, and he is among them. 45 25