By Women and other civilians in West Darfur have been raped by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF is a Sudanese paramilitary force that has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including rape, torture, and murder.
The RSF has been targeting ethnic minorities, particularly the Massalit, in West Darfur. In April and June 2023, the RSF and allied militias raped several dozen women and girls in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur. Many of the victims were targeted because of their ethnicity or because they were known activists.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) interviewed nine women and a 15-year-old girl from El Geneina who were survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence. The women described being gang-raped, beaten, and tortured by the RSF. They also said that their attackers had looted their homes and businesses.
One of the women interviewed by HRW said, “I cry often. And when I cry, my throat hurts. I can’t sleep, I can’t feel normal. When I am walking outside, I keep getting lost. I can’t find my way when I try to go anywhere.”
The rape and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls in West Darfur is a serious human rights violation. The perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes. The Sudanese government must take immediate action to stop these attacks and to protect the civilian population. The international community must also step up and provide assistance to the victims of these crimes.
