Rights Group Says Sexual Violence is Rampant in Sudan's Civil War
CAIRO (AP) — An alarming report from an international rights group has highlighted the rampant sexual violence occurring amidst the ongoing civil war in Sudan. The paramilitary group, known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has been accused of committing heinous acts, including rape, gang rape, and forced and child marriages against women and girls. The military has also been implicated in a smaller number of incidents.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for urgent action from the United Nations and the African Union to establish a joint mission aimed at protecting civilians in Sudan. The conflict, which has persisted for over 15 months between the military and the RSF, shows no signs of resolution. Laetitia Bader, the deputy Africa director at HRW, stated, “The Rapid Support Forces have raped, gang raped, and forced into marriage countless women and girls in residential areas in Sudan’s capital.”
The report details how both warring factions have obstructed survivors' access to essential emergency care. The military has been accused of deliberately restricting humanitarian supplies, including medical aid, to areas controlled by the RSF since October of the previous year. In contrast, the RSF has been reported to pillage medical supplies and occupy healthcare facilities, further exacerbating the crisis.
The conflict erupted in April 2022, following escalating tensions between the military and the RSF, leading to widespread violence in Khartoum and other regions. The United Nations estimates that over 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured, although rights activists suggest the actual numbers could be significantly higher. The war has also triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with more than 11 million people forced to flee their homes.
The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed militias during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s, has been linked to numerous atrocities. Former President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for three decades until his ousting in 2019, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide and other crimes committed during that period.
In a recent report, HRW documented extensive sexual violence and forced marriages in Greater Khartoum, which includes the cities of Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri. These acts are classified as “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” While the majority of the reported cases were attributed to the RSF, some incidents involved the military, particularly in areas where the military maintained control.
The report also highlighted that men and boys have been victims of sexual violence, including in detention facilities. Both the RSF and the military have not responded to requests for comments regarding these allegations. HRW criticized both parties for failing to take meaningful steps to prevent sexual violence or to investigate the crimes committed by their forces.
An RSF spokesman denied the allegations of occupying hospitals or medical centers but did not provide evidence of any effective investigations into the claims of sexual violence. HRW has urged the African Union and the United Nations to deploy a new mission to protect civilians in Sudan, emphasizing the need to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.
Bader stated, “The United Nations and African Union need to mobilize this protection, and states should hold accountable those responsible for ongoing sexual violence, attacks on local responders, health facilities, and the blocking of aid.”
Recent clashes have been reported in eastern Sudan and in al-Fasher, the military's last stronghold in the western region of Darfur, where the RSF has been attempting to gain control. International experts have warned that approximately 755,000 people are facing famine in the coming months, with 8.5 million facing extreme food shortages.