“A war of atrocities” in Sudan — UN Fact-Finding Mission reports widespread international crimes
The latest fact-finding report to the UN Human Rights Council shows both the army and Rapid Support Forces are deliberately targeting the Sudanese people.
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The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan says the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are committing large scale war crimes and other violent acts that may amount to crimes against humanity, including persecution and extermination. The 18 page report focuses on the impact on the civilian population and critical infrastructure and describes atrocities documented during the reporting period.
Report Summary
UN experts issued repeated meeting requests to the army and RSF as part of their work. Neither side responded. Neighboring countries including Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda issued visas for investigators to meet with Sudanese refugee communities there. The Fact-Finding Mission’s main findings are summarized:
Sudan Crisis Guide
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“As the conflict in Sudan intensifies, parties not only failed to protect civilians and critical infrastructure, but rendered civilians primary targets. The Mission documented widespread violence against individuals and communities, including killings, mass displacement, detention, enforced disappearance, and sexual violence. Civilian infrastructure suffered extensive damage, with medical centres, schools, markets, food production systems, electricity stations, and displacement camps under attack.
The Mission finds that both warring parties and allies targeted civilians. Civilians and individuals taking no active part in hostilities were killed and injured through shelling and attacks on displacement camps, checkpoints, roads, and convoys, as well as retaliatory assaults based on perceived allegiances. They also faced torture, arbitrary detention and sexual violence.” (4)
While we encourage our followers to read the report in full, we’ve pulled forward some key anecdotes below.
RSF Crimes
Since May 2024, the Zamzam displacement camp, south of El Fasher, was also regularly shelled by the Rapid Support Forces. The Rapid Support Forces associate certain communities, particularly the Zaghawa, with the joint forces allied to the Sudanese Armed Forces which are present in the area. One witness noted: "They burned everything. They claimed they only wanted to fight soldiers, but they punished the whole community. It felt like they wanted to remove us because of who we are."…From 11 to 13 April 2025, the Rapid Support Forces and allies launched a large-scale ground offensive on the camp. A large military convoy entered the camp, firing randomly, killing and injuring many. Members or perceived associates of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Joint Forces were summarily executed. Estimates of the number of persons killed range from 300 to 1500, with over 157 wounded, the majority women and children. By the time the Rapid Support Forces took control, parts of the camp were burned, and all facilities were destroyed. Over 400,000 inhabitants, about 81 per cent of the camp's population, were again displaced, with many fleeing towards Tawilah or back to El Fasher. (4)
Following the defection of Commander Abu Aqla Keikel and his Sudan Shield Forces from the Rapid Support Forces to the Sudanese Armed Forces on 20 October 2024, the Rapid Support Forces launched attacks in Keikel’s stronghold in East Gezira. Over 30 towns and villages including Tamboul, Rufaa, al Sireha and al-Hilaliya, were targeted. Witnesses reported extra-judicial killings, beatings, widespread looting and rape. The Rapid Support Forces entered Tamboul in vehicles and on motorbikes, shooting at residents with heavy machine guns, entering houses, beating and insulting residents for the perceived celebration of Keikel’s defection. By November 2024, the Rapid Support Forces reportedly killed hundreds including 80 in al Sireha alone. Over 130,000 people fled their homes. (5)
The Rapid Support Forces detained civilians in Darfur, Khartoum and other parts of Sudan under its control in military bases, police stations, prisons, and civilian infrastructure that were converted into detention facilities. Most detainees were arrested at their homes or checkpoints. They were held incommunicado without access to legal representation or communication with, or visits by their families. None were charged nor appeared before a court. Guards of the Rapid Support Forces subjected them to severe beatings with whips. One interviewee stated he was beaten, whipped, and drenched with cold water for several hours until he lost consciousness. The beating continued for three days. (7)
The Rapid Support Forces used sexual violence as a deliberate tactic to humiliate and subjugate women, girls, and entire communities. Such violence is rooted in racism, prejudice and extreme cruelty, and violence has become a defining feature of the conflict. It is enabled by widespread impunity…It took place in streets, public squares, homes, abandoned buildings, and forested areas. In some incidents, multiple perpetrators in Rapid Support Forces uniforms raped women and girls. In June 2025, one survivor fleeing from El Fasher was stopped at a checkpoint of the Rapid Support Forces between Shagra and Tawilah. She was taken to an abandoned building, along with several other women and girls aged 15 to 17, where they were all raped. Some raped women were visibly pregnant while others became pregnant as a result. (8)
Army Crimes
After the Sudanese Armed Forces and their allies recaptured Gezira in January 2025, reprisals targeted particularly the Kanabi community, that it accused of siding with the Rapid Support Forces. From 9 to 12 January 2025, the Sudan Shield Forces attacked several Kanabi villages, including Tayba and Dar al-Salam al-Hideba. They arrived in armed vehicles, shooting and killing unarmed civilians, burning homes, and looting property and livestock. In Tayba alone, at least 26 individuals, including a child, were killed. Perpetrators used racial slurs against victims such as “abeed” (slaves) and “gharaba” (foreigners). In Dar al-Salam al-Hideba, at least 16 individuals were killed and many houses looted and burned. Some remain missing. Most residents were forced to flee and were prevented from returning to their village. (6)
During the retaking of Wad Madani, between 12 and 25 January 2025, videos verified by the Mission show individuals in army fatigues beating a civilian on crutches. Another man was beaten, thrown from a bridge and then shot. Other videos show individuals beaten while accused of supporting the Rapid Support Forces. Some perpetrators appeared in Baraa bin Malik Brigade uniforms. One perpetrator can be heard saying "this is in revenge for all our martyrs". (6)
Arrests carried by the Sudanese Armed Forces were mainly based on suspicion of collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces. In areas retaken by the Sudanese Armed Forces or at army checkpoints, many who lived under control of the Rapid Support Forces were stopped, beaten and detained for alleged association with the Rapid Support Forces. Former detainees reported their incommunicado detention and the lack of due process and judicial oversight. Only one of them appeared before a judge, which led to his release following more than two months of detention…In Serkab prison in Karari, Omdurman, a victim was hit with a hammer upon arrival. He was interrogated about his connections with the Rapid Support Forces while being forced to sit naked on a metal chair, with weights attached to his genitals, while two masked men administered electric shocks. Another victim, arrested in El Fasher in April 2025, was beaten by six soldiers for denying collaboration with the Rapid Support Forces. He was later held in solitary confinement for 20 days before being released. (6-7)
The Mission received evidence that members of the Sudanese Armed Forces committed sexual violence in White Nile, Blue Nile, Khartoum and Northern State. Documented incidents include rape, sexual harassment, and sexualized torture of women and men, particularly during detention or while fleeing. (9)
Additional Information
The Mission has documented a consistent pattern of attacks on civilian infrastructure and objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. Hospitals, markets, water sources and electricity systems were damaged. These attacks have had a devastating impact on civilians, denying them access to healthcare, food, clean water and shelter. Food insecurity increased due to the inability of farmers to reach their fields, and because seeds were not distributed due to the conflict. (10)
The Mission finds that attacks on, or in the vicinity of medical infrastructure by both parties caused the near-total collapse of the healthcare system across Sudan. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other organisations documented several hundred attacks on health care infrastructure since the beginning of the conflict. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reported that as of 30 June 2025, less than 25 per cent of the health facilities remained operational in the worst-affected areas. (12)
Humanitarian workers and facilities were targeted or caught in the crossfire. Between April 2023 and April 2025, more than 84 Sudanese humanitarian workers were reportedly killed. (13)
Disruptions to food supply chains and agricultural production, as well as delays and administrative challenges in delivering aid have resulted in widespread hunger and malnutrition, with some areas facing famine conditions. According to the WFP, Sudan is on the brink of becoming the world’s most severe hunger emergency in recent history. (14)
In January and July 2025, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court reiterated it had reasonable grounds to believe that international crimes continue to be committed in Darfur. It announced that steps were being taken to request arrest warrants. (3)
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The latest fact-finding report to the UN Human Rights Council show both the army and Rapid Support Forces are deliberately targeting the Sudanese people. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan says the army and Rapid Support Forces are committing large scale war crimes and other violent acts that may amount to crimes against humanity. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes
Between April 2023 and April 2025, more than 84 Sudanese humanitarian workers were reportedly killed. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes
According to the WFP, Sudan is on the brink of becoming the world’s most severe hunger emergency in recent history. https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes
Operation Broken Silence is dedicated to Sudanese communities, cultivating resilience and driving meaningful change through crowdfunded programs. Will you join us? https://operationbrokensilence.org/blog/a-war-of-atrocities-in-sudan-un-fact-finding-mission-reports-widespread-international-crimes
