Sexual violence has become a normalized part of daily life in parts of Sudan’s Darfur region, even where active conflict has ended, according to a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The report, based on testimonies from over 3,300 survivors, reveals that rape is often committed by armed forces-particularly the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)-and is frequently accompanied by extreme brutality.
Survivors in North Darfur reported assaults while fleeing conflict zones like Zamzam and Abu Shouk, especially after the RSF takeover of El-Fasher in October 2024. Many were attacked during travel to safer towns like Tawila.
"They took us to an open area," said one survivor. "The first man raped me twice, the second once, the third four times and the fourth once."
The report highlights that non-Arab communities such as the Zaghawa, Massalit, and Fur have been systematically targeted. In South Darfur, where violence has diminished on the battlefield, sexual assaults still occur regularly-often in public spaces like markets and farms.
MSF noted that 68% of victims in South Darfur were assaulted by armed men, with others including criminals and intimate partners. Among them, 1 in 5 survivors were under 18, including children under five.
Despite the severity, the charity says the full extent of abuses remains hidden due to stigma, lack of protection services, and insecurity.
MSF calls for urgent global attention and accountability.