HRW accuses the RSF of perpetrating widespread sexual violence against women in South Sudan, including gang rapes and sexual slavery, as part of the ongoing conflict that has led to a significant humanitarian crisis. The UN has also reported similar abuses. Calls for urgent international intervention to protect civilians and address these human rights violations have been made by HRW.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a grave accusation against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their affiliated militias, claiming their involvement in extensive sexual violence against women in southern Sudan. This statement is part of a broader series of reports highlighting sexual violence amid Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which has now persisted for over 20 months, leading to what the United States has referred to as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. HRW’s latest report details numerous incidents of sexual violence, including gang rapes and instances of sexual slavery, predominantly affecting women and girls aged between seven and fifty in South Kordofan state since September 2023.
The extensive allegations encompass a range of abuses, from systematic gang rapes committed in front of victims’ families to the abduction and unlawful detention of women in conditions tantamount to sexual slavery. These findings echo a previous report, which detailed atrocities against ethnic Nuba civilians in South Kordofan by the RSF and its allied militias from December 2023 to March 2024. The report labeled these actions as war crimes that had not received sufficient attention. While both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces have been implicated in various human rights abuses according to the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, the RSF has been particularly condemned for committing sexual violence on a large scale.
Mohamed Chande Othman, the chair of the fact-finding mission, noted the alarming extent of sexual violence reported, emphasizing that the systematic nature of these crimes is staggering. However, RSF officials have publicly dismissed these allegations, attributing them to social media propaganda, and claiming only isolated incidents under their jurisdiction. Despite these denials, the conflict, which erupted mid-April 2023, has resulted in a staggering number of casualties and has displaced over eight million individuals, with more than three million fleeing to neighboring countries for safety.
In South Kordofan, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) continues to hold territory and has engaged in conflict with both the RSF and the army since the commencement of hostilities. Testimonies from survivors paint a harrowing picture of degenerating conditions, with victims describing brutal gang rapes and the complete disregard for human life and dignity. Human Rights Watch underscores these episodes as war crimes and urges immediate international intervention to protect civilians and hold violators accountable. The United Nations’ humanitarian chief has likewise expressed urgent concerns regarding the burgeoning crisis of sexual violence, calling for a more robust global response. HRW has echoed this sentiment, imploring the UN and the African Union for the immediate deployment of protective missions in Sudan, signifying the dire need for action and assistance in the region.
The conflict in Sudan has escalated since April 2023, creating a humanitarian catastrophe marked by violence and mass displacement. The RSF, originally formed to combat insurgency in Darfur, has been accused of atrocities, particularly against civilians. The ongoing power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces has exacerbated the humanitarian situation, especially in regions like South Kordofan where ethnic tensions and armed conflict converge. Reports from organizations like HRW and the United Nations highlight the severity of human rights abuses, including systemic sexual violence, which necessitates urgent international attention and intervention.
The allegations by Human Rights Watch against the RSF regarding widespread sexual violence in South Sudan shed light on a critical humanitarian issue exacerbated by ongoing conflict. As testimonies reveal harrowing experiences of brutality and victimization, the need for international action becomes increasingly evident. Both the United Nations and African Union are urged to deploy missions that protect civilians and seek justice for the violations committed. The global community must strive for effective responses to ensure the safety and dignity of vulnerable populations in conflict zones.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
