El HaqeeqaThe first specialized magazine to monitor and document the violations of the rebellious Rapid Support Forces militia
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”
.
Issue “6”
Introduction:
The Sudanese government has consistently alerted the international community to the terrorist and criminal nature of the rebellious militia, manifested in their use of civilians as human shields, targeting innocent citizens, especially women and children, sexual violence, and the recruitment of children as fighters. These practices place the rebellious militia in the same category as groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and the Lord’s Resistance Army, which the international community has classified as terrorist groups threatening international and regional security and peace.
The recent suicide attempt by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces militia to attack the Armored Corps in Khartoum, in which they employed large numbers of children and minors as fighters, has revealed that this militia does not regard humanitarian, ethical, religious, or international humanitarian law considerations, nor even basic human compassion and the obligation to protect and spare children from the horrors of war, as emphasized by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Despite this, the rebellious Rapid Support Forces persist in using children as fuel in their war aimed at seizing the state and subjugating society.
Reports have also confirmed that the militia has abducted a large number of girls and women, subjecting them to forced labor, rape, sexual violence, and captivity, aiming to extort substantial ransoms from their families.
Last month, statements from United Nations experts and rapporteurs, including the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, the Special Rapporteur on Sexual Violence, and the Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, highlighted these facts. These heinous acts represent the worst methods of terrorist groups, instilling fear in communities, undermining state institutions, committing murder, looting, aggression, sexual violence, and physical harm.
The multiple violations carried out over the past four months alone make the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ call to the international community to classify this rebellious militia as a terrorist group an imperative step. All these practices have been documented through various monitoring and documentation mechanisms, including the magazine “El Haqeeqa.”
The US State Department has rightly condemned the spread of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan, directly attributed to the Rapid Support Forces militia and its allied militias. It expressed concern about numerous reports of rape, gang rape, and other forms of gender-based violence against women and girls in West Darfur and other areas.
The State Department emphasized the necessity of committing to effective measures to prevent and address any acts related to sexual violence.
The evidence, proofs, and data make the classification of this rebellious militia as a terrorist group a compelling reality and a warning to all militias that might rebel against their own countries.
What happened in West Darfur is considered one of the most dangerous violations committed by this militia. They engaged in clear ethnic cleansing alongside their unethical practices, including shelling civilians in many neighborhoods in the three cities of Khartoum, as reported by UNAMID.
The various inhuman violations by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces have not ceased. They continue to carry out arbitrary detention, forced disappearance of citizens, target public service facilities, journalists, and hospitals, all in pursuit of their political agenda. They are backed by several countries, organizations, regional and international figures with agendas and economic interests, in addition to the political wing of the rebellious Rapid Support Forces, self-proclaimed as the “Freedom and Change Alliance.” They are relentlessly striving to repeat the same mistakes that led to war in Sudan.”
“In the context of its constitutional legitimacy, the Sudanese Armed Forces continued to carry out its national roles in coordination with other government agencies, including the General Intelligence Service, the police, and military intelligence, to protect civilians whose rights have been violated by the militia and who have been deprived of the basic necessities of life. They also protect the sovereignty and security of the state, as well as the efforts to establish stability, led by the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. In addition, the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, led by Deputy Chairman Malik Agar, has been making continuous efforts both domestically and internationally.
El Haqeeqa Monitors
Discovery of “30” new mass graves in West Darfur containing over a thousand bodies of women, children, elderly, and many young individuals, all from the Massalit tribe
Report by Nima Elbagir, CNN American correspondent??
Text of the report:
They were shot while drowning and executed in the desert. Those who collected the bodies recount “one of the worst days” in Darfur’s history, filled with wounds.
Hundreds of families gathered in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, on June 15 to plan their escape from the city that had become a hellish place, with all its buildings destroyed and racist slogans painted on them. The streets were filled with bodies, including the recent execution and mutilation of the state governor by Arab militias. The civilians had no choice but to flee.
Eyewitnesses reported that what followed was a horrifying massacre, believed to be one of the worst incidents in the history of the Sudanese region plagued by genocide. Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias carried out a campaign targeting non-Arab individuals in various parts of the city and the surrounding desert, resulting in the deaths of hundreds as they fled for their lives, according to evidence collected by CNN.
CNN analyzed video clips, photographs, and satellite imagery, and gathered 11 testimonies from eyewitnesses and survivors of the violence in Geneina, including relief workers who collected the bodies and a surgeon who treated the wounded in Chad, all to provide a narrative of the horrors of June 15. As relentless killings continue in Sudan, with reports of escalating violence, CNN’s investigation into the atrocities committed on that day alone sheds light on the significantly hidden scale of violations.
In the early hours of that day, the population collectively fled from southern Geneina, with many attempting to reach the nearby Sudanese military headquarters, where they believed they might find safety. However, they said they were quickly intercepted by Rapid Support Forces, and survivors claimed that some were killed on the streets while others drowned en masse, shot while attempting to cross the river. Many of those who managed to escape were ambushed near the Chadian border, forced to sit in the sands before being ordered to run for safety, only to be shot at.
How the Geneina Massacre Unfolded:
On June 15, hundreds of people from non-Arab tribes were shot dead as they attempted to leave the capital of West Darfur en masse, according to eyewitnesses who attributed the massacre to the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias.
A local humanitarian worker, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told CNN, “Over a thousand people were killed on June 15. I was collecting bodies that day. I gathered a large number. The bodies were buried in five different mass graves in the city and its surroundings.”
Another relief worker who worked alongside colleagues collecting bodies from the streets stated, “The days of June 15, 16, and 17 were the bloodiest in Geneina. However, June 15 was the worst among them all.”
Without access to the city, CNN was unable to independently verify the exact number, but testimonies from body collectors, relief organizations, doctors, and survivors offer evidence.
The conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Army erupted in April. Since then, more than a million people have fled to neighboring countries, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Now, with communications cut off and international relief groups fleeing, Darfur has been cut off from the outside world. However, reports of the June 15 massacre have begun to emerge from the area through refugees who escaped to Chad. The evidence revealed by CNN suggests that the Rapid Support Forces and its allies, behind a veil of secrecy, have conducted a widespread campaign of arbitrary killings and sexual violence, in contrast to what the region has witnessed for decades.
The official spokesperson for the Rapid Support Forces vehemently denied these allegations.
Jamal Khamees, a human rights lawyer belonging to the non-Arab tribe and one of the largest tribes in Darfur, said, “Saying you are from the Massalit tribe was like a death sentence.” Khamees was among those who fled from Geneina to Chad, escaping a series of hideouts of Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias, hiding his ethnicity.
He recounted that there was an 8-year-old boy holding his hand, part of the group walking toward the Chadian border.
He said, “When we reached Shukri, they captured us. They told us to run. They fired and killed the 8-year-old boy. He was trying to escape, and they shot him in the head. June 15 was one of the worst days in Darfur’s history.”
Reviving the Genocide Playbook
Darfur had suffered from a decades-long ethnic cleansing campaign that reached its peak in the early 21st century, led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemeti. It seems that the leader of the Janjaweed militia, Hemeti, who has now become the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, has revived those tactics in a national struggle to wrest control of Sudan from the country’s army.
Prior to the current war in Sudan, Hemeti, who is considered the second most powerful person in the Sudanese government, allied with his now archenemy, the Sudanese military commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to overthrow the dictator Omar al-Bashir. They later staged a coup against an internationally recognized transitional government.
As competition between them erupted into open warfare, Darfur emerged as a flashpoint in the conflict. Hemeti redoubled his efforts to solidify control over the turbulent region, seizing major border crossings that helped him enhance his arms supplies from external players such as the Wagner Group. He launched a brutal attack on local tribes, resulting in significant loss of life.
Weeks into the outbreak of fighting in Sudan, community activists in Darfur warned that the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias had inflamed violence in the region, setting vast stretches of land in villages and neighborhoods on fire and arbitrarily killing civilians, as well as committing sexual assaults.
Geneina is the largest Sudanese city to fall into the hands of the Rapid Support Forces. For weeks, local residents fought armed militias, as the city was subjected to ongoing attacks and bombardment.
The United Nations sounded the alarm in June over ethnic targeting and the killing of members of the Massalit group in Geneina, following reports of summary executions and “ongoing hate speech,” including calls for their killing or expulsion.”
The vast majority of those who managed to escape alive from Genena resorted to the Chadian border town of Adré, located about 22 miles (35 kilometers) from the city. On June 15th, the city received the largest number of migrants in one day, alongside the highest number of victims – 261 – since the conflict erupted in Sudan, according to the organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), known by its French name Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which operates the only hospital in Adré. The number of wounded who arrived at the hospital was highest the following day: 387.
Dr. Pape Malouba from Médecins Sans Frontières, who was the sole surgeon working in Adré on June 15th, told CNN: “Civilians were coming from everywhere, brought in by every possible means.”
“There were vehicles from Médecins Sans Frontières bringing in patients… There were Chadian army vehicles transporting patients. The Chadian police were bringing in patients… There were carts pulled by men carrying patients.”
Malouba stated that most of the wounds he treated indicated that people were shot while fleeing – gunshot wounds to the back, legs, and buttocks. Many of the wounded were women and children.
Malouba said: “I remember the first death case we recorded. It was a 2-year-old girl who was shot multiple times in her abdomen.”
Between June 15th and 18th, 112 women were treated at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital for gunshot injuries and wounds from beatings and other assaults. Half of them were pregnant.
Genena became involved in the current Sudanese conflict for the first time in late April. Rapid Support Forces and their allies repeatedly shelled the city, according to eyewitnesses and community organizations, resulting in hundreds of casualties in the initial months of violence.
The fighting intensified in early June, reaching its peak with the execution of the governor of West Darfur, Hemeti Abbakar, on June 14th. After his death, videos emerged showing Abbakar being detained by Rapid Support Forces fighters. The Sudanese army blamed Abbakar’s death on the Rapid Support Forces, a charge denied by the forces.
A local humanitarian worker from Genena, employed by a non-profit Western organization, told CNN: “The last time we recorded the number of dead in Genena was 884.” That was on June 9th. After June 9th, the story changed. The death toll became uncountable.
“Shooting at them as they drown”
Eyewitnesses stated that the group of fleeing families fell into an ambush almost immediately after they began to escape in the early hours of June 15th. The first major incident occurred in front of the Genena Teaching Hospital near the city center. “The fighters had heavy Soviet-era machine guns and other heavy weapons,” said Khamees, a lawyer from Genena.
“I saw the Rapid Support Forces with my own eyes. They had vehicles with RSF license plates. They were dressed in official uniforms and head coverings. They stood in front of us and opened fire,” Khamees told CNN.
The crowd then scattered, according to CNN sources. Some sought refuge in nearby houses, while others continued north to Ardamata, where the Sudanese army has a military base. About 300 people headed east to a river valley known as Wadi Kaja, hoping to cross a usually shallow river in an attempt to escape the attacks of the Rapid Support Forces and their allies.
However, the river was higher than usual that day, according to eyewitnesses, supported by satellite images, resulting in the drowning of dozens who couldn’t swim. Three eyewitnesses in Wadi Kaja said that the militia forces fired at people in the water, including children and the elderly, in a desperate attempt to swim.
A humanitarian worker, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, said he witnessed the aftermath and counted around 120 bodies. CNN cannot independently confirm the exact date when the deceased person in the images was killed.
The Sudanese Red Crescent collects bodies
A promotional video published by the Rapid Support Forces on their official YouTube channel on July 2nd confirmed the allegations related to the massacres carried out in Genena. The footage showed the commander of the Rapid Support Forces in West Darfur, Major General Abdelrahman, supervising a “clean-up” operation in the city.
In the video, Abdelrahman was seen thanking members of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society for their assistance. The Sudanese Red Crescent is the primary partner of the International Committee of the Red Cross on the ground in Sudan, and the International Committee of the Red Cross stated that its staff have been assisting in humanitarian aid distribution and body collection since the conflict began.
Some units in the video were seen wearing hazardous material suits and gloves – according to CNN sources in Genena, members of the Sudanese Red Crescent participated in the collection and burial of bodies in mass graves. CNN cannot independently confirm whether the individuals seen in the video wearing numbered vests for identification purposes were members of the Sudanese Red Crescent collecting bodies.
CNN pinpointed the geographic location of the photographed Sudanese Red Crescent units in the video near the attack sites and about 300 meters from Wadi Kaja, supporting reports of bodies being spread in the area.
In a press conference on Saturday, West Darfur official Mujib al-Rahman Mohammed Rizk stated that 30 mass graves had been discovered in and around West Darfur, including in Wadi Kaja, where the Rapid Support Forces and their allies disposed of the bodies. He stated that the Rapid Support Forces had compelled the Sudanese Red Crescent to “prepare the bodies, wrap them, and tie them in plastic fabric for burial… and when they started to bury the bodies, they were threatened by militias and forced to leave, so the militias could bury the bodies in unknown locations.”
Aliona Sennikova, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Africa, told CNN that she wouldn’t comment on the video but that the International Committee of the Red Cross was aware of it. Sennikova didn’t mention whether the Sudanese Red Crescent units seen in the video wearing sequential vests had provided evidence of mass killings in Genena, adding that the International Committee of the Red Cross also deals with communication challenges.
The International Committee of the Red Cross states that discretion is key to maintaining its neutrality in times of conflict and ensuring access to the most affected areas. However, it also states that it retains the right to speak out publicly in “exceptional cases” where violations are “grave and repetitive or likely to recur,” and where “our staff have witnessed violations with their own eyes or at least have credible information that can be verified.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross also states that it may “share concerns with selected third parties,” such as other countries or international bodies, with the aim of influencing participants in armed conflicts.
CNN was informed that the Sudanese Red Crescent in Genena declined to comment on whether they had informed the International Committee of the Red Cross about the bodies collected in the city.
Summary executions near the Chad border
Escaping from Genena became more dangerous after families left the city, according to survivors, as the road leading to the Chadian border filled with Rapid Support Forces and allied militia positions.
Two body collectors from Genena stated that the crowd fell into ambushes at four or five different locations along approximately 7 kilometers (4 miles) of the road between the city and Shukri, near the Chadian border.
A man, who requested anonymity, said he lost eight family members in that area, reportedly where Arab militias have a base. Médecins Sans Frontières and the United Nations also mentioned that this location is known for summary execution operations.
“They were executed. They were moving together just before Shukri, and they were shot from behind.” Among the dead were his father and uncle, who he said were shot twice at close range in the head.
His grandmother was with them. She saw two of her sons being killed in front of her.
A day after the massacre, life came to a halt in Genena, according to eyewitnesses and ground videos. The city fell into the hands of the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias, and civilian resistance by non-Arab inhabitants was defeated.
A resident, Zuhawi Idris, who documented that day, said, “The bodies were scattered on the street from the Genena Teaching Hospital all the way along the road south of the city.”
He said, “It was a city of ghosts. There was nothing but bodies and horrifying scenes.”
El Haqeeqa Monitors
The Most Dangerous Reports about the Sale of Girls and Women and Shocking New Numbers of Rape Cases:
1/ Nurses by Force and Others “Sold” in Markets.. Narratives about Kidnapped Women
”Marwa Gamal and Ali Al-Qamati: BBC”
2/ Human Rights Watch Provides Shocking Numbers of New Rape Cases through Rapid Support Militia and UN Expresses Concern, US State Department Condemns
1/ ”BBC Report”:
The report states that after four months of war, local and international organizations working in Sudan are warning about an increase in violence against women, particularly sexual violence related to the conflict, kidnappings, forced disappearances, and women being coerced into aiding militants. In the latest report from Sudan’s Women and Child Protection Unit, an independent entity established to coordinate between local institutions and international organizations on women and child issues, 12 new cases of sexual violence were documented in the “Kalma” camp for displaced people in South Darfur, including a case resulting in death due to assault. Additionally, there were four new cases of sexual violence in the capital Khartoum, bringing the total documented cases in Khartoum to 60 since the ongoing conflict began. Officials at the United Nations, during a session of the Security Council held last week, stated that sexual violence in Sudan is being perpetrated on a “shocking” scale, but survivors’ accounts and witnesses indicate even darker scenarios that women in Sudan are facing, especially those who have been kidnapped and forcibly disappeared. Victims who were released spoke to the “Sudan Salam” program, aired by BBC, about three girls who were abducted from Khartoum by militants and taken to Dar Al-Salam locality, where they were held captive. The residents of the area attempted to negotiate with the militants for the girls’ release without involving their honor, but the militants demanded a ransom. After negotiations, the girls were released.
2/ Human Rights Watch Numbers:
Human Rights Watch has provided shocking figures regarding new cases of rape committed by the Rapid Support Forces militia. The United Nations has expressed concern about the situation, and the U.S. State Department has condemned it.
Local initiatives are trying to collect reports of missing individuals, including girls and women, through social media platforms, but challenges with communication and security concerns make it difficult to obtain conclusive evidence. Reports suggest an increase in the number of missing women during ceasefires, with some women being abducted while they feel safer during these periods. The Sudanese society considers women’s issues matters of honor, making it challenging to share survivors’ stories and detailed experiences openly.
These reports depict a distressing situation involving violence, abductions, and exploitation of women in Sudan during the ongoing conflict. It’s crucial to support efforts to document and address these issues and raise awareness about the challenges women face in such circumstances.
Human Rights Watch stated that the Rapid Support Forces, an independent military force, and allied militias in Sudan, raped dozens of women and girls in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state. The attacks occurred between late April and late June 2023. The attackers targeted them due to their belonging to the Masalit ethnic group, and in some cases, because they were known activists.
Since the start of the armed conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces on April 15, the RSF and its Arab-majority allied militias have carried out repeated attacks on towns and villages in West Darfur state. These attacks primarily targeted areas populated by the Masalit, one of the main non-Arab ethnic groups.
The attacks began in Geneina on April 24 and continued until late June, resulting in the deaths and injuries of numerous civilians. These attacks forced more than 366,000 people to flee to neighboring Chad. An urgent media briefing was held by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict at the United Nations Security Council.
Balkees Waleh, Associate Director in the Crisis and Conflict Division at Human Rights Watch, stated, “It appears that the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias are responsible for a staggering number of rape cases and other war crimes during their attack on Geneina. The UN Security Council should take urgent steps to stop these atrocities and show those responsible for the violations that the world is watching.”
In late July, Human Rights Watch conducted interviews in Chad with nine women and a 15-year-old girl from Geneina, who had experienced rape and other forms of sexual violence. Four of them, including the girl, were raped by several men. Human Rights Watch also interviewed four women who witnessed incidents of sexual violence or the immediate aftermath of rape, as well as five service providers, including medical workers who supported sexual violence survivors in Geneina. Based on the survivors’ personal accounts, incidents they witnessed, and information shared with service providers, Human Rights Watch documented 78 victims of rape between April 24 and June 26.
Victims who spoke to Human Rights Watch reported that between one and six armed attackers committed sexual violence. Most of the attacker groups included men wearing full or partial Rapid Support Forces uniforms, and some were dressed in civilian clothing. In many cases, they arrived in vehicles bearing the markings of the Rapid Support Forces. One woman recognized her assailant as an Arab resident of Geneina.
In nearly all the cases reported to Human Rights Watch, those responsible for the rape also committed serious violations such as beating, killing, looting homes, businesses, and government buildings, or setting them on fire.
All victims reported that the attackers openly identified their ethnic identity and used racist slurs against the Masalit or non-Arab individuals in general.
Since 2019, the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias have frequently engaged in battles against armed Masalit groups in West Darfur. Historical grievances rooted in ethnicity, including the Sudanese government’s failure to address land use and ownership issues, have fueled tensions. The absence of justice for previous human rights violations, widespread weapon proliferation, and lack of security sector reform have exacerbated the volatile situation.
During the ethnic cleansing campaign initiated by President Omar al-Bashir in Darfur in 2003, government forces and the militia known as “Janjaweed,” which later became the Rapid Support Forces, attacked non-Arab communities, including the Masalit.
On the first day of the attacks in Geneina on April 24, five armed Arab men in civilian clothes entered a 20-year-old university student’s house in the Jabal neighborhood. They demanded to know the women’s tribe. She said, “We lied and said we were Burqo.” But they said, “No, you are from the Masalit, you are Nuba [a term used in Sudan to refer to rebels or non-Arabs].” One of them raped her while the others waited outside. Then another came and raped her.
She mentioned that the attack continued to haunt her over two months: “I cry a lot, and when I cry, my throat hurts. I can’t sleep; I don’t feel normal. When I walk outside, I’m constantly scared. I can’t find my way when I try to go anywhere.”
In four cases, the attackers explicitly mentioned the woman’s work in human rights, and in one case, they mentioned her husband’s work, suggesting they knew who they were attacking.
Only one of the victims Human Rights Watch interviewed received some emergency care after the rape in Geneina. During the peak of violence, the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias looted, burned, and destroyed medical facilities and offices of non-governmental organizations that provided emotional and psychological care to sexual violence survivors.
The International Humanitarian Law, also known as the laws of war, prohibits parties to armed conflicts from deliberately harming civilians. Both the “Common Article 3 of the 1949 Geneva Conventions” and customary international humanitarian law, applicable to all warring parties in Sudan, prohibit rape and other forms of sexual violence. Rape committed by combatants can be considered a form of torture. Rape and other forms of sexual violence committed in the context of armed conflict constitute war crimes, and if part of a widespread or systematic attack by a government or armed group against civilian populations, they can amount to crimes against humanity.
International standards call on governments to mitigate gender-based violence risks from the outset of crisis response, including through the provision of comprehensive services to victims of violence, including specialized care for rape survivors.
Human Rights Watch sent a summary of its findings via email to the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, on August 11 for comments, but received no response as of the time of publication. After the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, called for preventing and addressing sexual violence, Deputy Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Lieutenant General Abdelrahim Dagalo, acknowledged the seriousness of sexual violence in the context of the conflict. The Rapid Support Forces issued a statement after the meeting confirming their full cooperation with the UN in investigating any allegations related to human rights violations.
In the UN Human Rights Council in September, all countries were urged to support the establishment of an independent international investigation committee to look into grave violations in Darfur and other areas in Sudan, aiming to ensure accountability for those responsible for these violations.
Balkees Jarrah, assistant director in the Crisis and Conflict division at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that concerned governments should allocate more resources to support the victims of sexual violence in Darfur, and the harrowing testimonies of rape survivors should compel donors to meet the needs of victims and support steps towards justice.
UN experts expressed concern over reports indicating widespread and brutal use of rape and other forms of sexual violence. The violence perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces during the ongoing internal conflict for the past four months in Sudan has led to dire humanitarian consequences. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and millions have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Nearly 700,000 refugees and asylum seekers have been forced to flee to neighboring countries.
While urging both parties to the conflict to end violations of humanitarian and human rights law, the experts specifically expressed concern about consistent reports of widespread violations by the Rapid Support Forces, including reports of women and girls being subjected to enforced disappearance, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and abuse, and it was reported that hundreds of women were detained by the Rapid Support Forces in inhumane or degrading conditions and subjected to sexual assault. The experts noted that women and girls in Sudan, both in urban centers and in Darfur, have been particularly vulnerable to violence. The lives and safety of migrant and refugee women and girls, especially from Eritrea and South Sudan, have been severely affected.
“It is alleged that men identified as members of the Rapid Support Forces are using rape and sexual violence against women and girls as tools of punishment and intimidation against communities,” the experts said, noting that some of the reported cases of rape had racial and ethnic motivations.
The experts highlighted that the ability to support and care for victims has been significantly hampered by the ongoing conflict, which has made it difficult to access affected individuals and communities. They also pointed out that local and international human rights defenders have also been directly targeted, and despite the Rapid Support Forces’ declared zero-tolerance policy towards sexual and gender-based violence, these alleged crimes, among others, have been repeatedly attributed to the Rapid Support Forces.
The Rapid Support Forces must demonstrate their commitment to upholding humanitarian and human rights obligations, including preventing gender-based and sexual violence. The experts highlighted the importance of addressing violence, human trafficking, facilitating humanitarian access, and holding perpetrators accountable.
“Assistance and protection must be provided to the victims, and effective avenues for justice must be accessible for women and girls.”
The experts reminded all parties to the conflict that their fighters must adhere to established humanitarian and international procedures, abide by human rights law, and emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. They also called on the international community to investigate alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
3/ The U.S. Department of State Strongly Condemns the Spread of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence in Sudan
Statement:
Matthew Miller
Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State
Friday, August 25, 2025
The United States strongly condemns the spread of conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan, attributed by reliable sources, including victims, to the Rapid Support Forces and the militias allied with them. Numerous reports of rape, mass rape, and other forms of gender-based violence against women and girls in West Darfur and other areas are deeply concerning.
These heinous acts contribute to a pattern of targeted ethnic violence. We echo the call of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, “Patten,” for the Rapid Support Forces to condemn conflict-related sexual violence and commit to effective measures to prevent and address such acts, declaring a complete intolerance for sexual violence. Specifically, we express profound concern for the situation in Nyala and its surroundings, South Darfur, where tens of thousands of civilians are trapped amidst escalating fighting between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces.
We urge the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to immediately cease hostilities and allow safe passage for all civilians out of the city. Perpetrators of atrocities must be held accountable. Accountability for conflict-related sexual violence remains a top priority for the U.S. government, as outlined in the presidential memorandum signed by President Biden in November 2022, directing the use of all available tools – including legal, political, diplomatic, and financial measures – to achieve justice and deter such violence.
El Haqeeqa Monitors
”500” Missing, Including “36” Women According to Legal Advisor for Families of the Missing and Human Rights Organizations Accuse Rapid Support Forces of Detaining Thousands of Civilians in Inhumane Conditions
On August 24, 2023, the legal advisor for families of the missing, Osman Al-Basheeri, informed “Sudan Tribune” about the increasing cases of enforced disappearance since the start of the war in April 15 until the current August. The number of missing persons, according to their statistics, reached “500,” including “36” women, among them “14” from Omdurman, “13” from Khartoum, “7” from Khartoum Bahri, and missing individuals from El Fasher in North Darfur and others from Geneina in West Darfur.
Reuters agency reported that Sudanese human rights organizations have evidence of the Rapid Support Forces detaining around 5,000 individuals, including 3,500 civilians, in inhumane conditions in the capital, Khartoum. These organizations, which refused to disclose their identities out of fear of reprisal, stated that among the detained civilians are women and people of foreign nationalities.
They confirmed that they can provide documents to the United Nations that document cases of torture-related deaths and the lack of basic living conditions in detention.
In the same context, the Sudanese Human Rights Activists organization based in Norway issued a statement, received by Al Jazeera Net, stating that the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias target civilians based on their ethnic and tribal affiliations, especially in the city of Geneina, the capital of West Darfur.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued in August 2023, the Sudanese Congress Party mentioned that the Rapid Support Forces arrested Salah Idris, a member of the Sudanese Congress Party, in the Souq Libya area, and he was detained inside a school.
The Committees of Klakla Resistance also mentioned that the Rapid Support Forces militia arrested citizen Walid Abdel Qader on July 22, 2023, and his family has no information about him.
Media sources reported that those detained by the Rapid Support Forces militia cannot distinguish night from day, are not allowed to use bathrooms, and some of them suffer from chronic illnesses. The situation is inhumane for a number exceeding “5000” civilians, and some of them are released after paying ransom.
El Haqeeqa Monitors
Important Testimonies about Ethnic Cleansing Crimes in West Darfur:
The Masalit tribe stated that what is happening in West Darfur is not a conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Army, but rather a conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and civilian components.
As clashes continue between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, especially in Khartoum, the Darfur region in the western part of the country is experiencing the aftermath of this fighting, especially in West Darfur.
Sultan of the Masalit tribe, Saad Abdelrahman, affirmed that what is happening in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, is not a tribal conflict but a conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the city’s components.
The Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as “Hemedti,” have been accused of seeking to cleanse the Masalit tribe and seize El Geneina to make it a launching point for their operations against the Sudanese Army.
It has been suggested that Hemedti’s goal is to control the city due to its richness in uranium and gold, in addition to being a center of convergence between Sudan, Central Africa, Chad, and Libya, as reported by local media.
El Geneina has witnessed intense fighting and acts of violence for months, condemned by the United Nations, warning of the specter of ethnic and tribal war in this region filled with wounds.
Last June, the Governor of West Darfur, Khamees Abdullah Abkar, and a prominent figure in the leadership of the “Masalit” tribe were assassinated, further escalating tension in the city, especially as this assassination came days after the killing of Tareq Abdelrahman Bahar El Din, the brother of the Sultan of the Masalit tribe.
According to Dabanga Radio:
Civilian leaders in West Darfur state revealed 30 secret graves containing a thousand bodies of victims of the continuous attack on El Geneina since last April.
Al-Fursha Mujeeb al-Rahman Mujeeb al-Rahman Mohammed Yaqoub accused the Rapid Support Forces of attempting to erase evidence of the crimes committed in El Geneina by forcing the Red Crescent to prepare the scattered bodies in the city and load them onto trucks. He indicated that the bodies are buried in unknown places.
He stated that the Rapid Support Forces compel members of the Red Crescent to stay away after loading the corpses onto vehicles and bury them in unspecified locations. He also mentioned the dumping of hundreds of bodies in Wadi Kajja.
The UN Human Rights Office stated in July that at least 87 people, including some from the Masalit ethnic group, were buried in a mass grave in West Darfur, adding that they have credible information pointing to the responsibility of the “Rapid Support Forces” for this.
However, Al-Fursha Mujeeb al-Rahman insists that the mentioned number does not represent anything compared to the number of secret mass graves and the buried victims.
In the same context, the Rapid Support Forces were accused of demolishing all the displacement camps, including Abu Dhar and Neem Forest camps. They claimed that the confined number of victims, until two days before the killing of the state governor, reached five thousand dead and eight thousand wounded. Additionally, hundreds of injured people fell on the way from El Geneina to Ardamata, and the road between El Geneina and the Chadian border, and 600 injured people were confirmed dead within treatment centers.
The investigation committee formed by the head of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, was called upon to expedite its travel to Chad to hear testimonies from survivors of the El Geneina events.
Mujeeb al-Rahman also mentioned the killing of witnesses and lawyers in the events of “Krinding 1 and 2,” pointing out that 50 lawyers fled from El Geneina to Chad.
The center demanded the appointment of a new governor to fill the administrative void in the state until it receives its share of aid.
Mujeeb al-Rahman warned about discussing with the government in Port Sudan the preparations for the return of refugees in Chad and filling the administrative void in West Darfur.
He urged the army to expedite the liberation of El Geneina and arrest those involved in the crimes before they escape abroad.
He said that the Rapid Support Forces and militias are holding citizens in various localities as hostages, preventing them from leaving the country and compelling them to pay cash amounts.
On the other hand, Lieutenant General Saleh Arbab Suleiman stated that the targeting of El Geneina and West Darfur state came because its components refused to respond to the request of the Rapid Support Forces to support them in invading other parts of Sudan. He clarified in a press conference in Port Sudan that the Rapid Support Forces had mobilized over a hundred thousand soldiers from neighboring countries before the war, adding (we informed the state leadership of this in due time).
He confirmed that El Geneina has become uninhabitable, pointing out that 90% of the city’s population has taken refuge in Chad, where they are suffering from rainfall due to the lack of shelter for some of them. Civilian leaders indicated that refugees in Chad are prepared to return to El Geneina and other cities in West Darfur.
On its part, the Coordination of the El Geneina Resistance Committees revealed that a number of bodies are still on the roofs of houses and inside homes, and have not been buried or dealt with.
The coordination confirmed in a report in August 2023 that most of the bodies had been disposed of by being thrown into the Kaja Valley, indicating the existence of mass graves to the west in the “Ornaga” area (the red soil).
The coordination pointed to the demolition and destruction of displaced persons’ camps in the city, especially parts of the Abu Zar camp, all of the Qilani camp (the forests), the Krenk camp, and the Al-Hajjaj camp. It stated that the attacks extended to even doors, windows, and roofs of houses that were subjected to forced entry and vandalism.
The coordination affirmed widespread looting in the southern and western neighborhoods and highlighted the weakness of the communication network, with a complete interruption of internet service. It mentioned that the security situation remains unstable, with a wide spread of the Rapid Support Forces and militias within the city of Al-Junaynah. Random shootings occur, with cautious and limited movement in the northern neighborhoods.
The report also pointed out that the city is suffering from a shortage of medicines and medical services, with an increase in cases of malaria and inflammation. Prices of consumer goods and rationed goods have risen, and there are difficulties in movement between different parts of the city.
The report confirmed that the majority of remaining residents have relocated to Ardamata city after the destruction of Al-Junaynah. It noted limited involvement from international and regional organizations, as refugees continue to flow into Chad, especially residents from Murni and Krenk.
Meanwhile, the Darfur Union in the United Kingdom issued a call to the international community regarding the crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces. Darfur Links in the UK held a meeting on August 21, 2023, with officials from the International Criminal Court, raising the issue of atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces across Darfur and the necessity of conducting an investigation.
“El Haqeeqa Monitors”
Reports a new war against Sudanese people by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces.
On August 22, the Sudanese newspaper “Al-Sudani” learned that the rebellious Rapid Support Forces had closed the fuel pipelines from the Al-Jili refinery, which supply fuel to the cities of Madani and Atbara, and from there to other states.
The Sudanese states witnessed a severe fuel crisis, and sources according to Al-Sudani newspaper stated that this move by the Rapid Support Forces opens a new front against the Sudanese people. It aims to strangle the country and ignite further crises, tightening the grip on the people in other states after they killed and displaced citizens of Khartoum and looted their properties, and even shelled their homes.
Al-Sudani added that the Sudanese government has started to ease the crisis by importing fuel.
On another note, the Old Omdurman Emergency Room stated in August 2023 that the Rapid Support Forces militias had overrun the Wad Nubawi neighborhood in Omdurman, causing residents to flee the area and causing damage to citizens’ properties and service facilities, including electricity and water. The situation has become extremely catastrophic.
El Haqeeqa monitors
Testimonies of Children Recruited by the Rebellious Rapid Support Forces as Fighters in the War
On August 22, 2023, the organization “Youth for Darfur” (Mushad) confirmed that the recruitment of children and minors by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces in their ongoing war in the country since April 15th is a crime added to their other committed atrocities.
“Mushad” emphasized that the recruitment of children is considered a war crime carried out by the militia, adding to their criminal and brutal record against civilians and innocents.
The Sudanese army also mentioned in a statement that the attack launched by the rebellious Rapid Support Forces on the armored vehicle division in Khartoum in August 2023 involved a large number of children and minors.
In August 2023, the Sudanese newspaper “Al-Sudani” reported that the rebellious Rapid Support Forces disbanded a gathering of mothers of deceased Rapid Support Forces members in front of the Bashir morgue. The mothers protested as their children were forced into the battle of armored vehicles and only spent a few days after their recruitment.
In another testimony, 14-year-old Youssef Khalid Mohamed Nasser from Jabal Awlia Square 1 area stated that the rebellious Rapid Support Forces abducted him from the central market in Khartoum to work with them, luring him with money. Upon arrival, he suffered cruel punishments, such as being deprived of drinking water and being forced to urinate in the meal provided to him by the rebels. Youssef added that he was wounded and captured by the Sudanese army while being transported in a vehicle belonging to the rebels.
El Haqeeqa monitors
New Violations by the Rebellious Militia – Civilians Under Continuous Shelling
On August 20, 2023, the Sudanese newspaper “Al-Sudani” reported that the rebellious Rapid Support Forces carried out a violent random attack on the Azhari neighborhood in the south of Khartoum, bombarding many houses with howitzer shells. Sources stated that the attack resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians among the population.
Furthermore, “Nabd” newspaper revealed that the rebellious Rapid Support Forces stormed civilians’ homes in the Doroshab areas of Bahri with the intention of stealing their cars. They also fired a number of shells in the Shambat neighborhood of Bahri on the afternoon of August 21, 2023. This resulted in the deaths of 4 civilian martyrs whose bodies were mutilated and buried within the neighborhood, including two brothers.
Additionally, the Rapid Support Forces targeted residents of Shari’a 1 and Al-Radmia neighborhoods in Al-Haj Youssef on August 21, 2023, during the armored vehicle battle. Several of them were killed by gunfire.
The Sudanese army stated in a statement on August 22, 2023, that the militia committed a new crime against civilians by launching several mortar shells on the Ad Hussein Square 1 area, resulting in the martyrdom of 4 women and injuries to several others. They also launched shells at Old Omdurman neighborhoods.
El Haqeeqa monitors:
Series of Violations by the Rebellious Rapid Support Forces in the Health Sector
On August 11, 2023, the rebellious Rapid Support Forces attacked the Italian Peace Hospital. When the foreign Italian director refused to allow companions for the injured Rapid Support Forces members, numbering 150, the companions turned to the other side of the hospital and opened fire, killing and injuring several patients and hospital staff. Laboratories and buildings were also damaged.
The Sudanese newspaper “Al-Sudani” on August 23, 2023, reported that the Rapid Support Forces disbanded a gathering of mothers of deceased Rapid Support Forces members in front of the Bashir morgue. The mothers protested as their children were forced into the battle of armored vehicles and only spent a few days after their recruitment. Witnesses stated that the Rapid Support Forces inside the hospital opened fire on them, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many.
Social media users shared videos of the rebellious Rapid Support Forces, who kidnapped pharmacist Dr. Ghanem Abdullah, owner of Al-Awafi Pharmacy near the Daiat Hospital in Omdurman, while he was transporting medicines from his pharmacy outside Khartoum. He was blindfolded and falsely accused of transferring medicines to the army in search of false victories. Their affiliated groups also shared videos of the kidnapping.
El Haqeeqa monitors:
In Photos: Rebellious Rapid Support Forces Loot Depositors’ Vaults at Sudan French Bank
In August 2023, Sudanese media agencies reported that the rebellious Rapid Support Forces looted the private vault room of depositors at the Sudanese French Bank in the suburb of Khartoum 2. This is part of a series of their crimes involving looting and robbery that targeted several Sudanese banks, a clear violation of the rights of poor, widows, disabled, pensioners, patients, and various segments of society.
El Haqeeqa monitors
Series of Violations by the Rebellious Rapid Support Forces Against Journalists
The Sudanese Journalists’ Union and Network accused the “Rapid Support” forces of assassinating the photographer of Sudan TV, Essam Hussein, inside his home in Omdurman. They stated that Essam Hussein, a photojournalist, was killed by the Rapid Support Forces, and his body was found dead inside his home in Beit al-Mal neighborhood in Omdurman.
The union mentioned in a statement that his family members said he was shot twice, one of the bullets in his head, by members of the Rapid Support Forces after he refused to vacate his house. They also pointed out that his body was left in the courtyard of his home.
Hussein was considered one of the most skilled photographers in popular programs, notably “Asmaa fi Hayatina” (Names in Our Lives).
The Journalists’ Network condemned Hussein’s assassination, expressing its rejection of the escalating violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces against innocent citizens, journalists, activists, doctors, lawyers, and youth of the resistance committees.
El Haqeeqa monitors
Markets Selling Citizens’ Looted Properties by the Militia
New “Dagalo” Markets in Northern Al-Jazeera
August 22, 2023
Dagalo Market
“Dagalo” market is located north of Al-Jazeera state, which received most of the displaced people from Khartoum, where three million people fled since the start of the war on April 15. Vendors display their goods on the ground, ranging from electrical appliances, building materials, car parts, medicines, to foodstuffs.
A vendor offering various-sized screens said, “The screen costs 50,000 Sudanese pounds (around $80),” while its price in licensed stores is around 230,000 Sudanese pounds (about $383). It was clear that the vendor was not knowledgeable about the dimensions or specifications of the screens.
A security source who requested anonymity said, “The goods displayed in these markets are stolen… You can notice the drop in prices.”
Residents from the capital said similar markets with the same name have appeared in Khartoum and its suburbs, where everyone complains about their belongings being looted from shops, homes, or cars by the Rapid Support Forces.
Mohamed Hassan Khalifa, a resident of Bahri city, a northern suburb of Khartoum, said, “All my household belongings were stolen.”
Ahmed Abdel Aal, the owner of an electrical appliances store in central Khartoum, confirmed, “My store and warehouse were completely looted.”
A Toyota car dealer in Sudan announced in a statement last week that more than a thousand new cars were stolen from the company’s warehouses and showrooms, along with spare parts.
In July, the Rapid Support Forces announced the start of an “intensive campaign to combat looting and vandalism, especially the theft of civilian cars.”
In the market, a vendor offering refrigerators with different brands stood, and when asked about their price, he said, “The refrigerator costs 150,000 Sudanese pounds (around $250).” The price of this refrigerator in licensed commercial stores is 450,000 Sudanese pounds (around $880).
When asked by a customer about the source of her goods, an angry vendor replied, “Do you want to buy or talk?”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented, based on testimonies from residents in both the capital and Darfur region, crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces, including theft, looting, and sexual violence.
Similarly, UN organizations condemned the looting of their premises and warehouses by “looting activities.” The World Food Programme announced in June that its warehouses and assets were looted in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan.
Eye of El Haqeeqa
Allies of the Rebellious Rapid Support Forces: Countries and Regional and International Organizations with Political Agendas and Power Ambitions
On August 28, 2023, reliable sources informed (The Next Day) that a meeting is planned for the first week of September in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss forming a unified civil front that goes beyond the forces of freedom and change. The aim is to change its public image, which was previously associated with the Rapid Support Forces.
Human rights and humanitarian organizations have documented, based on testimonies from residents in both the capital and Darfur region, crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces, including theft, looting, and sexual violence.
Similarly, UN organizations condemned the looting of their premises and warehouses by “looting activities.” The World Food Programme announced in June that its warehouses and assets were looted in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan.
El Haqeeqa monitors:
*And this meeting is supervised with the support and funding of the UAE. It aims to present an initiative by Dr. Abdullah Hamdok. Hamdok had formed a coordinating quartet committee for his initiative, consisting of three members from the forces of freedom and change – the Central Council: Khaled Omar Yousif (Salvation Front), Minister of Cabinet Affairs in Hamdok’s recent government, Dr. Omar Al-Najib, Minister of Health in Hamdok’s recent government, and Taha Osman Ismail. The latter was imposed by Yasser Arman, who shares strong negative stances against Hamdok.
According to sources, the Federal Alliance supported this step to ensure Taha’s seat in the new front after some organizations within the forces of freedom and change insisted on dealing with elected unions rather than with the Professionals’ Association, which they believe has become a facade for the Sudanese Congress Party and the Federal Alliance. Ambassador Nour al-Din Sati was added to the coordinating committee to benefit from his initiative’s work among Sudanese expatriates.
The sources confirmed that Abdullah Hamdok had succeeded in stopping the Sudanese dialogue meeting that the African Union was planning to hold. This was based on the demand of the forces of freedom and change – the Central Council, which had asked the African Union to allocate 50% of the invitations to them and 25% to other civil society forces nominated by the Central Council.
The representatives of the Central Council threatened the African Union that they would boycott the meeting if these conditions were not met. They also claimed that the meeting would include the National Congress Party and remnants, as Yasser Arman had already mentioned in a previous article.
However, after the leaked guest list, which did not include names from the National Congress Party, Hamdok contacted Molly Fee, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. He requested her to pressure the African Union to stop or postpone the meeting. Fee, in turn, contacted the head of the African Union Commission, hinting that holding the African Union meeting was unacceptable. She indicated that it might jeopardize the US State Department’s dealings with the African Union in other significant matters without specifying or defining them. She requested him to leave the matter to the “Hamdok-Sati” initiative meeting, which was hastily organized in Nairobi, funded by the UAE, and directly overseen by Kenyan National Security Advisor Monica Juma.
The sources confirmed that the early September meeting is causing widespread disagreements within the corridors of the Central Council. Yasser Arman strongly rejects the Nairobi meeting to bypass the freedom and change forces or to work with Hamdok’s initiative. This has caused deep conflicts between him and Khaled Omar Yousif in the past period, especially as Khaled Omar Yousif’s stability in the UAE with his family has made him closer and more understanding towards Hamdok. This has irritated Arman, who holds deep negative reservations against Hamdok. This conflict led to Arman’s resignation from the chairmanship of the Political Communication Committee of the forces of freedom and change and his absence from the recent Addis Ababa meeting held on August 15.
On another note, the Umma Party raises objections to the non-institutional manner in which matters are being handled, as well as the involvement of Khalid, Omar Al-Najib, and Taha in the coordination committee without any discussion or authorization from the Central Council or the Executive Office. Sources within the Umma Party consider the actions of Siddiq al-Mahdi, who is currently based in Addis Ababa, and Al-Wathiq Al-Berer without involving the party’s institutions, such as the presidency, general secretariat, or political bureau, as individual orientations that concern them. The Umma Party appears to be on the brink of taking organizational actions against them, relating to the misuse of the party’s name and representation within the Forces for Freedom and Change.
Sources from within the Central Council have confirmed intensive communications by Youssef Ezzat with the Kenyan government and with those closely aligned with him in the coordination of Hamdok’s initiative. This effort aims to ensure the invitation of Nasr al-Din Abdul Bari and Mohammed Hassan al-Taayeshi and guarantee their presence in the new civil front that is planned to be formed. Some express concerns about the potential consequences of their alignment with the Rapid Support Forces, especially given their significant involvement in the past, and argue that there are no organizations or entities they represent.
Ezzat hinted that Abdul Bari’s presence is crucial in this front to ensure the satisfaction of the United States, and not inviting him could be interpreted as an attempt to exclude American influence or diminish it in the civilian aspect.
