Abu Lulu
Abu Lulu | |
|---|---|
| Native name | الفاتح عبد الله إدريس Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris |
| Nicknames | Abu Lulu Butcher of El Fasher |
| Allegiance |  Rapid Support Forces |
| Service years | 2013–2025 |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Known for | Participation in the El Fasher massacre |
| Battles / wars | |
| Relations | Hemedti |
Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris,[a] better known by his nom-de-guerre Abu Lulu,[b] or the Butcher of El Fasher,[c][1][2] is a Sudanese military officer in the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and convicted war criminal who became infamous for posting videos of himself executing civilians during the El Fasher massacre, and other massacres during the Sudanese civil war. He boasted of killing more than 2,000 people in El Fasher, and on 30 October 2025, he was arrested by the RSF. The RSF have since publicly distanced themselves from him, stating Abu Lulu was a leader of an allied militia. However, his arrest has been described as a publicity stunt by the RSF to defuse international ire to the massacre in El Fasher and other RSF atrocities.[3][1][4]
Early appearances
[edit]Abu Lulu joined the RSF in 2013. He first served in the Border Guards, a pro-Bashir militia connected with the RSF that conducted several massacres in Darfur.[5] He reportedly made a name for himself during his time as a fighter in the Border Guards, and was a feared commander by the end of the siege of El Fasher in 2025.[5] Family connections to Hemedti, a fellow member of the Rizeigat tribe, allowed him to be promoted quickly. He served in the Yemeni civil war and later became a guard to Abdul Rahim Dagalo, a brother to Hemedti and deputy leader of the RSF.[2]
His first known killing was during the Battle of Khartoum, during which he was filmed executing two prisoners of war. He then allegedly killed 31 civilians in Omdurman. In al-Khuwair, West Kordofan, he executed more than 16 POWs, with witnesses alleging that his killings were driven by racial hatred.[3] Other RSF fighters described him as moving back and forth within the RSF's territory in Darfur and Khartoum.[5]
El Fasher massacre
[edit]During the siege of El Fasher, Abu Lulu confronted a shop owner demanding to know the ethnicity of the man. After learning he was Berti, he killed the man. On October 27, after the fall of the city footage emerged showing a group led by Abu Lulu killing large amounts of civilians in the city. He would often avoid killing victims in a single shot. During a TikTok livestream he boasted of killing more than 2,000 people.[3][1][6][7] Survivors said that Abu Lulu's group had full autonomy before and after the siege, and he would personally stand at checkpoints and shoot fleeing civilians.[5] Dr David Holmes, a criminal psychologist described him as “a narcissistic psychopath”.[3]
Arrest
[edit]On 30 October 2025, he was arrested by members of the RSF. A senior RSF member said "He does not belong to the RSF, he leads a group fighting alongside us, but he will be held accountable for his actions. He does not represent the RSF." RSF spokesperson al-Fateh al-Qurashi said Abu Lulu was not a member of the RSF command structure. However rights organizations have said the RSF distancing itself from field commanders is a repeated tactic it has used.[3][1] Abu Lulu was considered by analysts to be the RSF's scapegoat for the massacres.[5]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "TRT World - 'Butcher of Al Fasher': RSF's Abu Lulu livestreams massacres, brags killing 2,000 civilians in Sudan". www.trtworld.com. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ a b "PROFILE – 'Butcher of El-Fasher' boasts about slaughtering over 2,000 civilians in Sudan's Darfur". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ a b c d e Husham, Eiad (2025-11-04). "The TikTok-famous commander accused of carrying out Sudan's worst massacres". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
- ^ Ahmed, Kaamil (31 October 2025). "Sudan's RSF accused of 'PR stunt' after arresting fighters behind civilian killings". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "RSF and the making of Abu Lulu". Ayin network. 2025-11-10. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ Houreld, Katharine; Haroun, Hafiz; Kelly, Meg (28 October 2025). "Paramilitary massacres unfolding in Sudan's Darfur, videos show". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ Mwai, Peter; Thomas, Merlyn; Murphy, Matt (29 October 2025). "New videos show executions after RSF militia takes key Sudan city". BBC News.