Human Rights Watch (HRW) leveled allegations Thursday of systemic sexual abuse against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their linked groups, alleging widespread rape and sexual abuse against children and women in El Geneina, West Darfur, as well as those seeking sanctuary in Chad. The victims are mostly Massalits, members of a non-Arab ethnic group which have allegedly been repeatedly targeted with ethnic violence.

According to associate crisis and conflict director at HRW, Belkis Wille:

The Rapid Support Forces and allied militias appear responsible for a staggering number of rapes and other war crimes during their attack on El Geneina. The UN Security Council should show those responsible for abuses that the world is watching by taking urgent steps to bring an end to these atrocities.

From April 24 to June 26, HRW documented 78 rape cases in the El Geneina district. HRW also discovered other human rights abuses such as physical attacks, fatalities, plundering and property destruction. Survivors report that assailants regularly enquired about their ethnic identity and used racial slurs, notably targeting the Massalit group. HRW alleges that these acts of sexual violence constitute torture and are violations of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention as well as customary international humanitarian law. HRW has stated it informed the RSF commander of its findings on August 11.

The El Geneina attacks began in April, inflicting significant casualties and displacing millions. Since 2019, the Massalit community has been a recurring target, with a history of ethnic violence dating back to 2003. HRW joins other human rights organizations in condemning the RSF for their targeted and gender-based violence against women and girls within the country including Save the Children and Amnesty International. The allegations come soon after the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to probe alleged human rights violations by both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).