RSF Using Sexual Violence as War Weapon

RSF (News Central TV) RSF (News Central TV)
The RSF is using sexual violence as a war weapon. Credit: VOA

A harrowing report released by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Tuesday reveals that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias are systematically using sexual violence as a “weapon of war” in Darfur.

The medical charity documented that between January 2024 and November 2025, at least 3,396 survivors—97% of whom are women and girls—sought treatment at MSF-supported facilities.

The organisation warns that these figures represent only a fraction of the actual atrocities occurring as the conflict enters its fourth year.

Advertisement

The report details a deliberate strategy of control and ethnic targeting, particularly against non-Arab communities such as the Zaghawa.

Testimonies from victims during the RSF’s April attack on the Zamzam camp, which housed nearly 500,000 displaced persons, indicate that sexual assaults are being used to terrorise and displace specific groups.

RSF (News Central TV)
The RSF is using sexual violence as a war weapon. Credit: UN Women Africa

Survivors reported being attacked while performing daily tasks, such as farming or travelling to markets, and many identified their attackers specifically as RSF fighters.

The scale of the crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with approximately 11 million people displaced since the war began in April 2023.

In the period between December 2025 and January 2026 alone, MSF identified 732 additional survivors within displacement camps.

International observers, including a UN fact-finding mission, have previously flagged these acts as potential genocide, particularly following the fall of El-Fasher in October 2025.

MSF officials emphasised that this war is being “fought on the bodies of women and girls,” highlighting a gross violation of international humanitarian law.

Author

  • Abisoye Adeyiga

    Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.

Share the Story
Advertisement

Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News

Weekly roundups. Sharp analysis. Zero noise.
The NewsCentral TV Newsletter delivers the headlines that matter—straight to your inbox, keeping you updated regularly.