Rights group reports war crimes in Sudan, including deliberate attacks on civilians, sexual assault

A prominent human rights organization has reported extensive war crimes in Sudan during the ongoing conflict, including deliberate attacks on civilians and sexual assault. The violence erupted in mid-April due to escalating tensions between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, a powerful paramilitary group, in Khartoum and other parts of Sudan.

Amnesty International’s 56-page report revealed that civilians were deliberately killed and injured in targeted attacks, while women faced rape and sexual slavery, especially in Khartoum and Darfur. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and their allied Arab militias, were held responsible for almost all rape cases and most deliberate attacks. The military was also implicated in some of these crimes.

In response to the report, the military claimed to have established a unit to minimize harm to civilians, while the RSF denied allegations of sexual violence and violent acts in West Darfur.

The conflict has turned urban areas into battlegrounds, with Darfur experiencing some of the worst violence and ethnic clashes. The fighting has forced around 4 million people to flee their homes, seeking safety within Sudan or neighboring countries.

Amnesty documented waves of violence in West Darfur, including the killing of civilians, looting, and destruction of infrastructure. The killing of West Darfur Gov. Khamis Abdalla Abkar by the RSF led to an exodus of the Masalit community to eastern Chad.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary general, called for an end to targeting civilians and safe passage for those seeking safety. The report also mentioned specific incidents, such as the killing of three children from the same family in Kalakla and an attack on the Mar Girgis Coptic church in Khartoum.

This report is the latest in a series of documentation of atrocities in Sudan’s conflict. Human Rights Watch and the U.N. Human Rights Office have also called for investigations into the atrocities in Darfur, with allegations of “summary executions” and evidence of mass graves. The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor is also looking into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Amidst the escalating violence and dire situation, concerns have been raised about the potential for ethnic cleansing, indicating the critical and dangerous nature of the conflict.

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More about War crimes in Sudan

• Amnesty International’s report on Sudan’s conflict
• Human Rights Watch’s call for investigation into atrocities in Darfur
• U.N. Human Rights Office’s findings on mass grave in Geneina
• International Criminal Court’s investigation into war crimes in Darfur