Sudanese medical group reports 32 rapes of girls in El-Fasher

A Sudanese medical organization has reported dozens of rape cases involving young girls in the besieged city of El-Fasher, documenting systematic sexual violence following the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces' takeover of the North Darfur capital.

Documented Sexual Violence Cases

The Sudan Doctors Network announced Sunday that it had verified 32 rape incidents affecting girls who were either trapped inside El-Fasher after the RSF capture or attacked while attempting to escape toward the nearby town of Tawila. The documented cases occurred within a single week, indicating a pattern of systematic sexual violence in areas under paramilitary control. The medical group characterized the assaults as particularly alarming given the victims' ages and the coordinated nature of the attacks.

International Law Violations Alleged

In its official statement, the medical network condemned the sexual violence as "a clear breach of international humanitarian law and amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity." The organization asserted that these crimes "reveal the extent of the disorder and systematic abuses facing women and girls in areas controlled by the RSF, amid the absence of protection and a complete lack of accountability." The statement placed full responsibility on the paramilitary force for the security breakdown enabling such widespread violations.

Calls for International Intervention

The medical professionals demanded immediate action from the international community, including an independent investigation into the documented crimes. They urgently requested protection measures for survivors and witnesses, along with guaranteed access for humanitarian organizations to provide comprehensive medical care, psychological support, and legal assistance to victims. The appeal highlighted the complete collapse of protection mechanisms for vulnerable populations in conflict zones under RSF control.

Broader Conflict Context

The sexual violence reports emerge amid escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, where fighting between the national army and RSF paramilitaries has claimed at least 40,000 lives and displaced 12 million people since April 2023. The RSF's capture of El-Fasher last month consolidated their control over all five Darfur states, representing approximately one-fifth of Sudan's territory, while government forces maintain authority over most remaining regions including the capital Khartoum.