CAIRO — A prominent human rights organization has announced a call for an international force to safeguard civilians in the conflict-ridden nation of Sudan. This plea arises amidst alarming reports detailing the brutal actions of a notorious paramilitary group, which has recently taken the lives of numerous civilians and perpetrated widespread sexual violence in the area adjacent to the capital, Khartoum.
For nearly 19 months, Sudan has been engulfed in a violent struggle for power between its military forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has faced accusations of committing numerous atrocities in various regions under its control. Recently, the RSF unleashed a violent campaign across many towns in Gezira province, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
Human Rights Watch has reported that the RSF has “killed, injured, and unlawfully detained scores of civilians and raped women and girls” in Gezira. The organization urged the United Kingdom to leverage its role as president of the United Nations Security Council this month to advocate for a U.N. deployment aimed at protecting civilians in Sudan.
“The recent surge in the heinous attacks perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces against civilians should dispel any remaining hopes that these appalling acts will cease without a robust international intervention,” stated Mohamed Osman, a researcher for HRW focused on Sudan. He emphasized that the minimal action thus far from the U.N. Security Council is inadequate in safeguarding civilians.
The conflict erupted in April 2023, following escalating tensions between military and RSF forces that ignited fighting in Khartoum and surrounding regions. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the ongoing conflict has resulted in over 24,000 fatalities and displaced more than 14 million individuals, amounting to approximately 30% of the Sudanese population, making it the largest displacement crisis globally this year. Severe famine conditions have emerged in certain areas, and a cholera outbreak has led to over 800 deaths and affected 28,000 individuals.
Gezira province, situated southeast of Khartoum, has been predominantly under RSF control since December. In October, a significant commander of the RSF in the area, Abu Aqlah Keikel, defected and surrendered to the military, prompting a violent retaliation from RSF fighters throughout local towns and villages.
Reports indicate that these fighters have been actively shooting civilians and engaging in sexual assaults against women and girls in various locations, supported by testimony from the United Nations and local organizations. The IOM noted that since October 20, approximately 135,000 individuals have been forced from their homes.
Witnesses from the town of Tamboul, which was attacked by RSF forces on October 22, described harrowing scenes where soldiers indiscriminately fired at civilians within their homes. They recounted witnessing the executions of 12 men attempting to flee from the gunfire. Many civilians, including women and girls, faced detention under duress, according to a woman named Inaam Abu Gassim, who communicated from her refuge in nearby Qadarif province.
The reports from medical associations are equally distressing. The Sudanese Doctors’ Union confirmed that at least 47 women and girls were raped around Tamboul, with a tragic account of a 7-year-old girl who died from injuries sustained during sexual assault, as reported by spokesperson Dr. Yassar al-Besheri.
In the town of Sariha, the situation has been just as horrific, with reports indicating that at least 123 people were killed and 200 others injured in late October. Testimonies from individuals in Sariha depict encounters with RSF fighters, identifying that a soldier made a horrifying comment about a 15-year-old daughter as the family fled for safety. That same family, who managed to escape, recounted their terrifying ordeal in detail, as shared by HRW.
In the city of al-Hilaliya, the Doctors’ Union confirmed over 200 deaths this month, with at least two dozen directly attributed to RSF fighters. The remainder of the fatalities arose from other dire circumstances relating to torture, starvation, and disease.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to wane under the spotlight of global attention, which has largely shifted to other regions such as Gaza, due to the recent Israel-Hamas hostilities, and Lebanon, where Israel has carried out military operations against Hezbollah.
Human rights advocates have persistently urged international powers to leverage their influence to convince the conflicting parties in Sudan to cease hostilities and engage in constructive dialogue aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution. Although the United States and Saudi Arabia have orchestrated multiple negotiation rounds between the military and RSF—most recently in August—efforts to secure a cease-fire have been unsuccessful.
A senior official from the U.S. government noted that the opposing factions appear to be intensifying military operations now that the rainy season has concluded. The Biden administration continues to collaborate with regional allies in hopes of reviving negotiations, as indicated by an anonymous official who shared insights regarding ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“We are actively pushing for discussions with both African and Gulf partners, as well as our European allies, and there may be developments on that front soon,” he added.