A recent report from a U.N. fact-finding mission has revealed “staggering” levels of sexual abuse perpetrated by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allies during the more than 18-month-long conflict. Civilians, including women and girls aged between 8 and 75, have faced horrific acts of sexual violence, including rape and abduction as sex slaves, as troops advance through war-torn regions.
The mission’s chair, Mohamed Chande Othman, described the scale of sexual violence documented in Sudan as staggering, emphasising that these crimes are part of a deliberate strategy to terrorise and punish civilians perceived to have connections with enemy groups. The report, which spans 80 pages and is based on interviews with victims, their families, and witnesses, echoes findings from various human rights organisations.
The RSF, which has been engaged in armed conflict against Sudan’s national army, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations. However, the group has previously asserted its commitment to investigate claims of abuse and hold those responsible accountable.
The RSF has its origins in the Janjaweed militias, notorious for their role in suppressing a rebellion in Sudan’s Darfur region two decades ago. In the current conflict, the RSF has gained control over large swathes of Sudan, including West Darfur, where it faces accusations of committing ethnic killings against the Masalit people with the support of allied Arab militias. The report highlights the use of racist slurs against non-Arabs during sexual assaults, indicating a pattern of ethnic targeting.
One particularly harrowing testimony detailed an incident where a victim was threatened at gunpoint by a rapist who proclaimed, “We will make you, the Masalit girls, give birth to Arab children.” In another case, a woman was held captive for over eight months and repeatedly raped by her captor, resulting in pregnancy. The report also documented cases of women being abducted from the streets, beaten, and raped, with victims noting that attackers often wore RSF uniforms or masks to conceal their identities.
While the report indicated a smaller number of sexual violence cases involving the Sudanese army, it called for further investigation into these incidents. It also noted credible reports of child soldier recruitment by both warring factions. Last month, the mission found evidence that both the RSF and the national army had committed egregious human rights abuses, including torture and arbitrary arrests.
Despite being overshadowed by the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Sudan’s ongoing war has resulted in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with thousands killed, over 11 million people displaced, and widespread food insecurity exacerbated by the involvement of foreign powers. The international community faces increasing pressure to address the unfolding disaster and protect vulnerable populations from the escalating violence.
Melissa Enoch
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