Abu Lulu Video and Exposes Brutal War Crimes in Sudan

Sudan’s already devastating civil war has taken an even darker turn as graphic videos circulated online showing a high-ranking paramilitary commander executing unarmed captives at point-blank range. The footage, verified by the BBC and widely shared before being removed, offers a chilling window into the scale of violence currently engulfing the war-torn nation.

The conflict, which began in 2023 between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has spiraled into mass displacement, widespread famine conditions, and increasingly frequent allegations of war crimes. The latest video evidence illustrates not only the brutality of frontline commanders but also the disturbing role of social media in glorifying and amplifying violence during wartime.

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A Rogue Commander and Video

The man shown in the footage is identified as Abu Lulu, a brigadier general within the RSF. His real name, according to multiple sources including the BBC, is Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris. Long feared for his ruthlessness, Abu Lulu was reportedly leading RSF operations in the city of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur and one of the last strongholds still held by government forces before falling after an 18-month siege.

The uncensored video of Abu Lulu showing his inhumane actions

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In the most widely circulated clip, Abu Lulu stands among a group of kneeling, unarmed prisoners. Without hesitation, he raises an automatic rifle and shoots each man individually, advancing from one to the next with a measured, almost casual manner. The executions occur in broad daylight, the setting unmistakably urban, and the victims appear to be captives taken during the recent RSF offensive.

Another disturbing video shows Abu Lulu berating a wounded prisoner lying on the ground. The commander threatens to assault and rape the man before shooting him dead. In yet another clip, he is seen standing with armed RSF personnel, surrounded by dozens of corpses, suggesting a sweeping massacre had taken place.

Human rights organizations say the videos are among the most explicit visual evidence to emerge from the war, documenting not battlefield combat, but cold-blooded, deliberate executions.

Social Media as a Tool of Terror

What has shocked observers even more is the way the footage was spread. The videos were originally uploaded by Abu Lulu himself to his TikTok account, where he had amassed more than 220,000 followers. The account appeared to portray him as a heroic warrior figure, blending violent content with triumphant music and celebratory imagery commonly used on social media platforms.

TikTok confirmed to the BBC that the account has since been removed, stating that the platform prohibits violent extremism, glorification of murder, and incitement to hatred. However, the brief period during which the videos circulated allowed them to be downloaded and widely reposted, ensuring their persistence online even after deletion.

Experts say this incident highlights a profound challenge: in modern warfare, propaganda no longer requires state-run media. A single commander with a smartphone can turn war crimes into viral content, shaping narratives and rallying supporters before international institutions can respond.

Evidence of Mass Killings in El-Fasher

The executions shown in the footage coincide with independent satellite evidence suggesting widespread killings during and after the RSF capture of el-Fasher. Researchers at the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab analyzed satellite images of the city and detected large, irregular dark patches on the ground. Analysts believe these may represent bloodstains or burned remains.

The findings, according to the research team, are consistent with reports of mass executions shared by survivors, UN observers, and humanitarian groups. Some organizations estimate that up to 2,000 civilians may have been killed since the city fell on Sunday. While exact numbers are impossible to verify due to ongoing fighting and communication disruptions, the images and testimonies together paint a grim picture of systemic violence, not isolated misconduct.

RSF Claims to Have Arrested Abu Lulu

Following international outrage, the RSF released a statement saying that their forces had arrested Abu Lulu along with several others accused of violations during the el-Fasher offensive. Photographs circulated online show him in handcuffs being led into a detention cell.

According to the RSF statement, the arrests were carried out in accordance with internal military discipline and respect for wartime conduct. The group announced that specialized legal committees had begun reviewing the cases to prepare them for trial.

However, analysts remain skeptical. The timing of the arrest, coming only after the videos prompted global backlash, suggests it may be more of a public relations effort than genuine accountability. There is no clarity about where Abu Lulu is being held, who is overseeing the investigation, or whether external observers will be allowed to monitor the proceedings. Historically, both sides in Sudan’s conflict have been accused of staging cosmetic disciplinary actions to deflect scrutiny while continuing their operations unchanged.

The Broader Context of the War

The civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 after tensions escalated between the SAF and the RSF, which had previously governed together under a fragile power-sharing arrangement following the ousting of long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir. When negotiations over integrating the RSF into the national military collapsed, both factions mobilized, plunging the country into full-scale war.

Since then, the conflict has devastated Sudan. More than 150,000 people are estimated to have been killed, though many believe the true death toll could be far higher. Meanwhile, over 12 million people have fled their homes, making Sudan one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing displacement crises.

While the SAF has regained territory in the northern region, including parts of Khartoum, the RSF maintains a strong grip over Darfur. The group’s control over the region has raised fears of a return to the ethnic cleansing and genocide campaigns that occurred there in the early 2000s.

Hospital Massacre Allegations

The violence in el-Fasher was not an isolated incident. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization reported that RSF troops attacked Saudi Hospital, killing approximately 460 patients and family members sheltering inside. Witnesses described soldiers going room to room, executing civilians. Women, children, and elderly individuals were among the victims.

The RSF has denied the allegations, calling them part of a coordinated misinformation campaign. But survivors and humanitarian personnel insist that the attacks were deliberate and targeted.

A Nation at Risk of Fragmentation

The fall of el-Fasher marks a dangerous turning point. The city had been the last major government-controlled urban center in Darfur. With its loss, Sudan now risks splitting apart into two rival territories: one held by the RSF in the west, and the other by the SAF in the north and east. This division mirrors the conditions that preceded South Sudan’s independence in 2011, after decades of brutal civil conflict.

The United Nations Security Council, alarmed by the recent escalation and growing evidence of mass atrocities, convened an emergency session this week. Diplomats and humanitarian leaders warn that without immediate intervention, Sudan could spiral toward widespread ethnic violence and state collapse.

The execution videos featuring Abu Lulu have shocked the world not only for their brutality, but for what they reveal about the nature of the conflict in Sudan. Violence is no longer hidden it is filmed, broadcast, and celebrated. The war is not just being fought on battlefields, but on social media feeds and propaganda channels.

As civilians continue to flee and the death toll rises, Sudan stands at a critical crossroads. Whether international pressure, humanitarian intervention, or diplomatic negotiation can alter the course of this conflict remains uncertain. What is clear is that the world can no longer look away.

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