Muthomi Ireri
An international rights group accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan of committing sexual violence against women, including rape, gang rape, and forced and child marriages, amidst the ongoing conflict. A smaller number of such incidents were also attributed to the military.
Human Rights Watch urged the United Nations and the African Union to establish a joint mission to protect civilians in Sudan, as the conflict between the military and the RSF has persisted for over 15 months without signs of resolution.
“The Rapid Support Forces have raped, gang-raped, and forced countless women and girls into marriage in residential areas in Sudan’s capital,” stated Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. The group also accused both factions of obstructing survivors’ access to critical emergency care, with the military reportedly restricting humanitarian supplies to RSF-controlled areas and the RSF pillaging medical supplies and occupying facilities.
The conflict, which began in April of the previous year, erupted from tensions between the military and the RSF in Khartoum and other regions, resulting in over 14,000 deaths and 33,000 injuries, according to the U.N. The true toll is believed to be higher, and the conflict has displaced over 11 million people, creating the world’s largest displacement crisis.
The RSF originated from the Janjaweed militias formed during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s under former President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes. Human Rights Watch’s report documented widespread sexual violence and forced marriages in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri, categorizing these acts as “war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Most of these abuses were attributed to the RSF, but some were also blamed on the military. Reports included the rape of men and boys, particularly in detention. Neither the RSF nor the military responded to requests for comment.
Human Rights Watch criticized both parties for failing to prevent their forces from committing such crimes or conducting independent investigations. It called on the African Union and the United Nations to deploy a mission to protect civilians, emphasizing the need to hold perpetrators accountable for sexual violence and attacks on healthcare and aid workers.
Recent clashes were reported in eastern Sudan and al-Fasher, the military’s last stronghold in Darfur, which the RSF has besieged. International experts warned that 755,000 people face imminent famine, and 8.5 million are experiencing extreme food shortages.
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