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.
But MSF says 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, which is the most comprehensive account yet on sexual violence in Sudan's nearly three-year war, 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. However, Darfur is the stronghold of the RSF and the vast majority of perpetrators identified by survivors are their fighters.
Many of the cases in the report took place in the conflict hotspot of North Darfur last year, following the RSF takeover of the displaced persons camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk, and the city of El-Fasher in October, which MSF calls one of the most shocking iterations, unfolding the most unimaginable brutality.
The attacks, often involving multiple assailants, included extreme acts of violence and intimidation such as beatings and the murder of relatives. Survivors describe being assaulted while carrying out everyday tasks, creating an environment where fear dominates daily life.
The report highlights a troubling trend of ethnic targeting, particularly against non-Arab communities in these atrocities, as well as significant barriers to accessing help, including ongoing insecurity and stigma.
MSF emphasizes that urgent action is needed to address this crisis, advocating for accountability and adequate resources for survivors of sexual violence.
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.
But MSF says 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, which is the most comprehensive account yet on sexual violence in Sudan's nearly three-year war, 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. However, Darfur is the stronghold of the RSF and the vast majority of perpetrators identified by survivors are their fighters.
Many of the cases in the report took place in the conflict hotspot of North Darfur last year, following the RSF takeover of the displaced persons camps of Zamzam and Abu Shouk, and the city of El-Fasher in October, which MSF calls one of the most shocking iterations, unfolding the most unimaginable brutality.
The attacks, often involving multiple assailants, included extreme acts of violence and intimidation such as beatings and the murder of relatives. Survivors describe being assaulted while carrying out everyday tasks, creating an environment where fear dominates daily life.
The report highlights a troubling trend of ethnic targeting, particularly against non-Arab communities in these atrocities, as well as significant barriers to accessing help, including ongoing insecurity and stigma.
MSF emphasizes that urgent action is needed to address this crisis, advocating for accountability and adequate resources for survivors of sexual violence.
