Violence, death and suffering in Sudan
For the people of Sudan, nowhere is safe.
The internal conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced over 11 million people. People in Sudan are facing rampant violations of human rights and humanitarian law resulting in mass civilian casualties, gender-based violence, and a humanitarian catastrophe as parties to the conflict block aid to millions of civilians trying to survive without food or water.
The conflict incited a new wave of ethnically motivated attacks by the RSF against Masalit and other communities in Darfur. It has also sparked horrific revenge killings across the country by both the RSF and SAF.
The dire situation that many Sudanese people are being forced to survive is not inevitable. There are things the international community can do to make sure civilians are protected and do not continue to bear the brunt of this conflict.
But we need your help to make it happen.
Demand an arms embargo in Sudan
Join our call on the UN Security Council to disrupt the flow of arms in Sudan which will reduce civilian suffering.
What is the conflict in Sudan about?
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Force (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) started in Khartoum in the early hours of April 15, 2023. Khartoum is the capital of Sudan and has been a major battleground since the start of the conflict. However, it did not take long for the battle to quickly spread across the country, into areas like Darfur, North Kordofan and Gezira state.
The fighting in Khartoum followed months of tensions between the RSF and the SAF. The RSF is an independent paramilitary force, and up until the current conflict, fought on behalf of the Sudanese government and alongside the SAF. In fact, the RSF has its roots in the Janjawid militias and was founded by former Sudanese President Bashir over 20 years ago to squash rebellions in Darfur. Since then, the Janjawid and RSF, allied with SAF, have they carried out a campaign of ethnic violence against Darfur communities.
After Bashir was deposed as President in 2019, Sudan began a journey of reforms as it transitioned to a new government. This included reforms that impact SAF and RSF operations, sparking tension between the two factions that finally reached a boiling point in April 2023.
Ethnically motivated violence and war crimes
The fighting in Sudan also opened old wounds left by the country’s history of war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic violence.
Our researchers verified multiple instances of ethnically motivated attacks against ethnic Masalit people in West Darfur in towns like Ardamata, El Geneina, Misterei and Tandelti. Evidence from survivors suggests that the RSF and allied militias are the forces behind these attacks.
Targeted violence against non-Arab communities in Darfur has a history that predates the current conflict. This includes the Darfur ethnic cleansing in 2003, in which Sudanese government-backed forces systematically killed Darfuri people., leading to allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, from the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
Demand an arms embargo in Sudan
Join our call on the UN Security Council to disrupt the flow of arms in Sudan which will reduce civilian suffering.
A growing displacement crisis
The indiscriminate and widespread nature of attacks from both parties of the conflict is leaving Sudanese people with two choices; flee their homes or get caught in the crossfire.
Over 9 million people are internally displaced in Sudan, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world. The scale of this crisis and supply shortages across the country has created a situation where these displaced people are not only surviving without shelter, but are also lacking food, water and medicine.
Another 1.8 million people fled Sudan into neighbouring countries such as the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan. However, many refugees have been arbitrarly detained and forcibly deported to the life-threatening dangers that they were trying to escape.
Famine
Sudan is on its way to becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis. Famine has been declared in at least five places, including Darfur and the Nuba crisis.
Over 26.4 million people are trapped in a spiral of deteriorating food security, largely because of the fighting between the SAF and RSF. The conflict brought farming and agricultural production to a standstill, caused disruption to trade that is shocking the economy and is blocking humanitarian aid access.
Children are among the most vulnerable to the famine. More than 2.9 million children in Sudan are acutely malnourished and an additional 729,000 children under five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Despite the catastrophic threats of famine, both the SAF and RSF are actively restricting aid delivery across Sudan. International organisations like the World Food Programme say that they cannot access 90% of the people facing emergency levels of hunger.
Gender-based violence
There is an increased risk of sexual violence against women and girls during times of armed conflict, and this is certainly the case in Sudan. Reports of rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence emerged only days after the conflict began. The RSF’s widespread sexual violence amount to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity. The SAF has also been accused of sexual crimes which could amount to war crimes.
Our researchers documented 16 incidents of conflict-related rape and other forms of sexual violence committed by the RSF between April 2023 and October 2024. Survivors who were interviewed described the massive physical and mental harm as well as devastating impacts on their families.
The international response to this suffering has been reprehensible. Despite their best efforts, victims and survivors lack health care and justice. None of the survivors we interviewed were able to access timely post-rape care. Vital cuts to USAID-funded programmes have further diminished prospects for accessing comprehensive sexual health care.
Women are not leading or participating in this war, but it is women who are suffering the most. I want the whole world to know about the suffering of Sudanese women and girls and ensure that all the bad men who raped us are punished.r that I cannot cope with that
a woman who survived sexual violence in Omdurman, Sudan
What is Amnesty doing to promote human rights during the conflict in Sudan?
As the situation in Sudan evolves, our researchers and campaigners remain committed to documenting human rights abuses and violations. We share our findings with the world and uncover the truth.
We engage in advocacy in key human rights spaces including the African Union and the United Nations Human Rights Council. These efforts, alongside other organisations, led to the establishment of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan in October 2023.
We also support human rights defenders, including through stop-gap emergency financial support, as they continue their tireless work supporting communities inside and outside Sudan.
But to make real change happen, we need help from people like you. We launched a campaign calling on the United Nations Security Council to expand the Darfur arms embargo to stem the flow of weapons into Sudan.
Sign the petition to show your support.
Demand an arms embargo in Sudan
Join our call on the UN Security Council to disrupt the flow of arms in Sudan which will reduce civilian suffering.