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Human rights

Sudan's Warring Parties Waging "War of Atrocities" Against Civilians

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A damning UN report warns that Sudan's warring parties are deliberately targeting civilians in a "war of atrocities", committing war crimes, and other large-scale international crimes. The report by the UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan documents mass killings, torture, enslavement, sexual slavery, rape, forced displacement, and persecution by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN report accuses both the SAF and RSF of committing war crimes, including direct attacks on civilians, destruction of essential infrastructure, and systematic targeting of non-Arab communities.
  • The RSF and allied groups have been implicated in massacres, torture, enslavement, sexual slavery, and rape, with survivors describing RSF detention centers as "slaughterhouses".
  • The UN mission has documented that at least 12.1 million Sudanese are now displaced, with only one in four health facilities remaining functional in the worst-affected regions.
  • Humanitarian workers have been attacked, with 84 Sudanese aid staff killed between April 2023 and April 2025, and others arbitrarily detained.
  • Both the RSF and SAF have been implicated in sexualised torture, with women and girls from non-Arab communities suffering systematic sexual violence.
  • Sudan's institutions are unwilling or unable to deliver credible investigations, shielding perpetrators through impunity, immunities, and amnesties.
  • The report calls for the international community to enforce the arms embargo, support prosecutions through the International Criminal Court, establish an independent judicial mechanism, and impose targeted sanctions.

Statistics:

  • 12.1 million Sudanese are now displaced.
  • 84 Sudanese aid staff killed between April 2023 and April 2025.
  • 39% of El Gezira's state population is comprised of the 2,495,000 kanabi community.
  • Only one in four health facilities remains functional in the worst-affected regions.

Sources:

  • UN's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan
  • AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)

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