Sexual violence a defining feature of Sudan war, MSF says

Sexual violence against women and girls is widespread in Sudan’s civil war and a defining feature of the conflict according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), The National reported on 31 March.

The organisation treated thousands of survivors across several parts of the country between January 2024 and November 2025. Many victims were assaulted by armed men, often in groups, and in some cases held for periods of time by their attackers. Violence took place in homes, displacement camps and while women were travelling in search of food or safety, including while fleeing conflict areas.

The true scale is likely to be higher than recorded figures, as survivors face stigma, fear of reprisals and limited access to care resulting in underreporting. Many are also unable to reach medical facilities because of ongoing fighting and insecurity.

In parts of Darfur, there are “no safe places” for women and girls, with sexual violence continuing even after front lines shifted and becoming part of “everyday life” in some communities, according to BBC News.

Attacks were also reported during routine activities such as collecting water, working in fields or travelling. Many involved multiple perpetrators and were accompanied by other forms of violence, including beatings and threats. Some communities in Darfur were reported to have been systematically targeted because of their ethnicity.

Children were among those treated, including girls under the age of 18, with survivors requiring care for both physical injuries and psychological trauma.

Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were present in areas where assaults were reported, although it was not clear who was responsible for specific instances. However, in many cases, survivors identified RSF fighters.

The charity called for urgent action to protect civilians and ensure access to medical care, adding that health facilities must be protected.

The conflict began in April 2023 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The fighting has displaced millions of people.

The United Nations has warned that sexual violence has been used as a tactic during the conflict, while UNICEF says millions of people, including women and children, are at risk of gender-based violence across the country

The National, BBC News, MSF, UN News, UNICEF, Maghrebi.org