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. However, MSF states that 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. It is 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.
The warring parties - Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - are both accused of sexual violence, with the RSF reportedly being the primary perpetrators identified by survivors. Many incidents documented occurred amid the RSF takeovers of displaced persons camps and cities during the conflict.
Sexual violence in South Darfur has become a daily occurrence, with over 1,300 survivors indicating they were assaulted while engaging in daily activities such as collecting firewood, working in fields, or traveling. Survivors’ accounts describe extreme violence accompanying the assaults, pursuing a notable ethnic dimension to the attacks.
MSF highlights the lack of accountability and a failing humanitarian response, emphasizing that sexual violence in Sudan is perpetuated against women, especially from non-Arab communities, amidst a militarized culture with pervasive gender inequalities.
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. However, MSF states that 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. It is 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.
The warring parties - Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - are both accused of sexual violence, with the RSF reportedly being the primary perpetrators identified by survivors. Many incidents documented occurred amid the RSF takeovers of displaced persons camps and cities during the conflict.
Sexual violence in South Darfur has become a daily occurrence, with over 1,300 survivors indicating they were assaulted while engaging in daily activities such as collecting firewood, working in fields, or traveling. Survivors’ accounts describe extreme violence accompanying the assaults, pursuing a notable ethnic dimension to the attacks.
MSF highlights the lack of accountability and a failing humanitarian response, emphasizing that sexual violence in Sudan is perpetuated against women, especially from non-Arab communities, amidst a militarized culture with pervasive gender inequalities.
