A leading Sudanese medical organization, the Sudan Doctors Network, has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of raping at least 19 women who fled the city of el-Fasher in Darfur. Among the victims, two were reportedly pregnant, highlighting the severity of the alleged crimes.

The Network documented these rapes among women who had escaped to the nearby town of al-Dabba in Northern State. In a statement on social media, the organization condemned the attacks, stating:

“The RSF’s gang rape of women escaping the horrors of el-Fasher constitutes a direct targeting of women in blatant violation of international law and the use of women’s bodies as weapons of oppression.”

Civil War and Humanitarian Crisis

Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 12 million people, according to the United Nations. Approximately 30 million people now require humanitarian assistance.

The RSF captured el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in October 2025 after an 18-month siege campaign, leaving the city in ruins. Survivors reported mass killings, sexual assault, pillaging, and other atrocities, prompting widespread international condemnation.

Widespread Sexual Violence

Mohammed Elsheikh, spokesperson for the Sudan Doctors Network, emphasized that sexual violence by RSF fighters is likely far more widespread than currently reported. Cultural stigma prevents many women from disclosing rape, meaning that the number of victims could be significantly higher.

The network also documented 23 cases of rape among women who fled el-Fasher for the nearby town of Tawila, with victims ranging in age from 15 to 23 years old. The group called for urgent international action to protect Sudanese women and girls and pressure RSF leaders to respect international humanitarian law and allow safe corridors for civilians.

Escalating Attacks and RSF Abuses

The RSF has also been linked to other recent atrocities, including an attack on a pre-school in South Kordofan, which local officials reported killed at least 116 people, including 46 children.

Sudan’s Justice Minister Abdullah Dirife stated that the government is open to political talks to end the conflict but insisted that any settlement must remove RSF militias from political and military roles. Dirife accused the RSF of violating previous agreements, including the Jeddah Declaration, brokered by the US and Saudi Arabia in May 2023.

Famine and Humanitarian Needs

The UN has declared famine in el-Fasher and Kaduguli, warning that 20 additional areas in Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan face severe hunger risks. The World Food Programme (WFP) reported assisting five million people, including two million in hard-to-reach areas, but emphasized that aid is insufficient to meet the overwhelming humanitarian needs.

WFP Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau urged the international community to increase diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, warning that without urgent action, the same disaster experienced in el-Fasher could unfold elsewhere in Sudan.