A leading Sudanese medical group has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of raping at least 19 women who fled the city of el-Fasher in Darfur. The Sudan Doctors Network said the victims had escaped to the town of al-Dabba in Northern State. Two of the women were pregnant.
In a statement, the group said the attacks were part of a pattern of violence targeting women during the war, and called it a clear violation of international law. It urged global leaders to take immediate steps to protect Sudanese women and girls.
Sudan has been locked in a civil war since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 12 million. Humanitarian agencies estimate that 30 million people now need aid.
The RSF seized el-Fasher in October after a long siege marked by starvation and attacks on civilians. Survivors who escaped later reported mass killings, sexual assaults and widespread looting, drawing international condemnation.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused the RSF of war crimes. A UN investigation has also been launched after officials described the situation in Darfur as a “crime scene”.
A spokesperson for the Sudan Doctors Network while speaking to Aljazeera said that the number of rape cases is likely much higher, as many victims choose not to report assaults. The group also documented 23 rapes among women who fled to the town of Tawila, with victims as young as 15.
The network called on global powers to pressure RSF leaders to stop the attacks and open safe routes for women and children.
The new allegations come as outrage grows over another RSF strike, this time on a pre-school in South Kordofan, where more than 100 people were killed, including dozens of children.
Sudan’s justice minister said the government is open to new peace talks but insisted that any agreement must remove armed militias from political and military structures. He accused the RSF of breaking past commitments.
The UN has declared famine in el-Fasher and Kaduguli and warns of rising hunger across Darfur and Kordofan. Aid groups say support remains far below what is needed, with millions at risk.
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