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. However, MSF reports that rape persists as an 'insidious' part of life for communities in the western region of Darfur that are no longer on the front line.
This report is the most comprehensive account yet on sexual violence in Sudan's nearly three-year war, 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, but the RSF is particularly implicated in these atrocities.
Many reported cases occurred in the conflict hotspot of North Darfur, especially following the RSF’s takeover of displaced persons camps in October last year. The attacks often involved multiple perpetrators, extreme violence, and intimidation, with over 90% of victims assaulted while traveling to safety.
MSF's findings echo an alarming reality where every day, reports of sexual violence become increasingly common. Survivors' accounts highlight a world in which women face severe risk during mundane activities such as traveling to markets or gathering firewood.
The report also emphasizes the ethnic dimensions of these attacks, with non-Arab communities experiencing systemic targeting. MSF calls for urgent accountability and action, reiterating that the humanitarian system has failed to adequately respond to the needs of survivors amidst significant barriers to care and intense stigma.
