Systematic Sexual Violence in Sudan's Civil War

Since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, the country has faced a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 12 million people displaced and more than 50,000 reported deaths. The conflict primarily involves the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as 'Hemedti'. The war has exacerbated existing economic challenges, with Sudan's GDP contracting by 29% in 2023-24.

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A report by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) has documented nearly 1,300 cases of sexual and gender-based violence, attributing 87% of these incidents to RSF fighters. The report describes a systematic pattern of violence, including home invasions, public assaults, and long-term detention of women subjected to torture and forced marriage. Rape constituted over 75% of the documented incidents, with children as young as four years old among the victims.

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The conflict has recently intensified in the Kordofan region, where RSF forces have made significant territorial gains. Following the RSF's capture of el-Fasher in October 2025, the fighting has shifted towards urban centers in Kordofan. Reports indicate that RSF fighters attacked a preschool in Kalogi, resulting in over 100 fatalities, including 46 children. The United Nations has warned of a potential wave of mass atrocities in the region, echoing concerns that history is repeating itself.

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In response to the ongoing violence, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on a network recruiting Colombian nationals to fight for the RSF. This network has reportedly facilitated the deployment of hundreds of Colombian mercenaries, contributing to the conflict's brutality. The U.S. has also sanctioned individuals and entities involved in supporting the RSF, emphasizing the need for external actors to cease financial and military backing for the warring factions.

Both the SAF and RSF have faced accusations of war crimes, with the SAF being the only side capable of conducting air strikes. A report by Sudan Witness documented 384 air strikes, with many targeting civilian areas, including hospitals and schools. The widespread destruction has deepened the humanitarian crisis, with food insecurity worsening dramatically. By September 2025, Sudan entered famine conditions for the first time, with a significant portion of the population facing severe hunger.

• “Women and girls from non-Arab tribes in Darfur, including the Masalit, Berti, Fur and Zaghawa, were directly targeted,” — Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa

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• “Despite recent attempts to downplay its misdeeds, the RSF continues to perpetrate these atrocities, most recently in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.” — John K. Hurley, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence

• “The repeated occurrence of air strikes on homes, markets and hospitals is blamed for having deepened the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and disrupted essential services.” — Sudan Witness report

The ongoing civil war in Sudan has resulted in widespread violence, particularly against women and children, and has created one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. As international actors impose sanctions and call for an end to external support for the warring factions, the situation remains dire, with millions facing displacement and food insecurity.

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