Sexual Violence: A Dire Reality in Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict

Tue Mar 31 2026 10:00:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent report by Médecins Sans Frontières reveals that sexual violence has become an everyday occurrence in regions of Sudan, highlighting the profound impact of unrest and armed conflict on the local population.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has released a report stating that sexual violence is a pervasive issue in Sudan, particularly in areas like Darfur, where it continues even when active conflict subsides. The report, based on accounts from 3,396 survivors, highlights the brutal realities faced by women as armed men perpetrate acts of violence. MSF calls for accountability as a critical response to this ongoing crisis.

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.

MSF emphasizes that rape persists as an insidious part of life for communities in the western region of Darfur that are no longer on the front lines.

This comprehensive report 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 Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are both accused of committing sexual violence. However, the majority of reported cases were attributed to RSF fighters, particularly in North Darfur where assaults were reported following their takeover of displaced persons camps and the city of el-Fasher.

More than 90% of victims treated by MSF reported being assaulted while traveling from these vulnerable areas to safety. Many attacks involved multiple perpetrators and extreme violence, including beatings and the murders of victims' relatives.

Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, pointing to a culture of impunity and systemic targeting of certain ethnic groups within Sudan. The report highlights the humanitarian system's failure to adequately respond to the needs of survivors, calling for urgent accountability and action against these atrocities.