An international rights group has accused a paramilitary group in war-torn Sudan of perpetrating sexual violence against women, including rape, gang rape, and forced and child marriage. The group also attributed a smaller number of incidents to the military. Human Rights Watch has called for 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 paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues unabated.
The Rapid Support Forces have been accused of committing numerous acts of sexual violence against women and girls in residential areas in Sudan's capital. Both warring parties have been accused of obstructing survivors' access to critical emergency care. The military has been accused of deliberately restricting shipments of humanitarian supplies to RSF-controlled areas, including medical supplies and aid workers.
The conflict in Sudan, which began over 15 months ago, has resulted in the deaths of more than 14,000 people and the displacement of over 11 million individuals, making it the world's largest displacement crisis. The RSF, which emerged from Janjaweed militias formed during the Darfur conflict in the 2000s, has been implicated in widespread sexual violence and other crimes.
Human Rights Watch documented cases of sexual violence, forced and child marriage in Khartoum and nearby cities, describing these acts as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The group called on the African Union and the United Nations to deploy a new mission to protect civilians in Sudan and prevent sexual and gender-based violence.
Recent clashes were reported in eastern Sudan and in the city of al-Fasher, the military's last stronghold in Darfur. International experts have warned of an impending famine affecting 755,000 people and extreme food shortages for 8.5 million individuals in Sudan.
