Rape and sexual violence remain part of everyday life in areas of Sudan even when fighting in the country's civil war has moved elsewhere, according to a new report by medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
Calling rape a defining feature of the conflict, it says sexual assault is overwhelmingly carried out by armed men and is often accompanied by acts of brutality and humiliation. But MSF says rape persists as an insidious part of life for communities in the western region of Darfur that are no longer on the front line.
The report is the most comprehensive account yet on sexual violence in Sudan's nearly three-year war, based on testimonies from 3,396 victims who sought treatment in MSF-supported facilities across North and South Darfur between January 2024 and November 2025.
Accusations of sexual violence have been directed towards both Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with a significant number of attacks attributed to RSF fighters. Much of the violence occurred in North Darfur, particularly following RSF takeovers of displaced persons camps.
MSF highlights that more than 90% of the victims were assaulted while traveling to safety, revealing the extreme risks faced even during attempts to escape to safer locations.
Victims reported multiple attackers and instances of extreme violence, reinforcing the ethnic dimension of the attacks, with non-Arab communities being systematically targeted.
The charity urges for accountability and more effective humanitarian responses, citing that significant barriers exist for survivors in accessing care due to ongoing insecurity, stigma, and the absence of adequate protection services. The findings underscore the need for urgent action to address sexual violence as a pervasive issue in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.}
Calling rape a defining feature of the conflict, it says sexual assault is overwhelmingly carried out by armed men and is often accompanied by acts of brutality and humiliation. But MSF says rape persists as an insidious part of life for communities in the western region of Darfur that are no longer on the front line.
The report is the most comprehensive account yet on sexual violence in Sudan's nearly three-year war, based on testimonies from 3,396 victims who sought treatment in MSF-supported facilities across North and South Darfur between January 2024 and November 2025.
Accusations of sexual violence have been directed towards both Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with a significant number of attacks attributed to RSF fighters. Much of the violence occurred in North Darfur, particularly following RSF takeovers of displaced persons camps.
MSF highlights that more than 90% of the victims were assaulted while traveling to safety, revealing the extreme risks faced even during attempts to escape to safer locations.
Victims reported multiple attackers and instances of extreme violence, reinforcing the ethnic dimension of the attacks, with non-Arab communities being systematically targeted.
The charity urges for accountability and more effective humanitarian responses, citing that significant barriers exist for survivors in accessing care due to ongoing insecurity, stigma, and the absence of adequate protection services. The findings underscore the need for urgent action to address sexual violence as a pervasive issue in the ongoing conflict in Sudan.}
