Human Rights Watch has accused Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces of committing widespread sexual violence, including gang rape and sexual slavery, against women and girls during the ongoing conflict. The report highlights numerous incidents since September 2023 in South Kordofan and calls for urgent international intervention to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable for these war crimes.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias as responsible for pervasive sexual violence in southern Sudan amid a protracted civil conflict. Their latest findings indicate a troubling pattern of violations of human rights occurring from September 2023 onward, affecting women and girls between the ages of seven and 50 in South Kordofan state. Incidents documented include aggravated sexual assault, gang rape, and sexual enslavement, framing these actions as war crimes amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis described by the United States as the world’s most severe.
This horrifying situation builds upon earlier reports from HRW which implicated the RSF and associated militias in large-scale abuses directed primarily at ethnic Nuba civilians, reportedly underreported in the media. The violence has escalated concurrent with the Sudanese Armed Forces’ combat with both the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), operating under leadership that resists any peace negotiations unless a secular state is established as a fundamental condition.
Survivor testimonies reveal the immense human cost of the conflict, with accounts of brutal assaults occurring in front of family members, further illustrating the pervasive climate of fear. HRW’s report insists that these instances of sexual violence underscore the critical need for decisive intervention by international bodies to safeguard the civilian population and ensure accountability for violations committed during the wartime.
UN humanitarian officials have voiced their increasing concern over widespread sexual violence, calling for a robust international response to these egregious human rights violations. Recently, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission scrutinized the actions of both the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF, attributing particularly extensive cases of sexual violence and torture to the paramilitaries. HRW has urged both the United Nations and the African Union to establish a mission focused on civilian protection in Sudan, highlighting the severity of the humanitarian plight.
The report by Human Rights Watch comes against the backdrop of a protracted armed conflict in Sudan that has persisted for over 20 months. The war has created an extensive humanitarian crisis in the region, with millions of people displaced and countless others facing violent conflict. The RSF, formed in the 2013 conflict, has been engaged in various abuses throughout its operations, particularly against marginalized ethnic groups such as the Nuba. The SPLM-N, a significant rebel faction in the country, has resisted peace attempts due to differing political ideologies and has also been in conflict with both the RSF and the Sudanese military. The current situation has drawn international condemnation and calls for intervention to protect civilian lives and restore order.
The allegations presented by Human Rights Watch illustrate a disturbing trend of widespread sexual violence during armed conflict in Sudan, highlighting an urgent need for international action. As the RSF faces scrutiny for its role in committing war crimes, the humanitarian toll continues to escalate, demanding effective responsive measures from the global community. Survivor testimonies reflect the dire consequences of this ongoing conflict on civil society, emphasizing the necessity for immediate protective actions and accountability to uphold human rights standards.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
