Sudan War · War Crimes & Atrocities
The Sudan Civil War that began in April 2023 quickly produced a pattern of atrocities documented by UN investigators, the African Union, and independent human rights organizations as severe as any conflict of the 21st century. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose leadership and forces emerged directly from the Janjaweed militias responsible for the 2003–2020 Darfur genocide, resumed and expanded their pattern of ethnically targeted massacre, sexual violence, and looting in Darfur. UN investigators and the U.S. government have characterized RSF conduct in Darfur — particularly in El Fasher and the El Geneina massacre — as genocide. The Sudan Armed Forces have conducted indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian areas. The conflict has received minimal international attention relative to its scale, with the catastrophic humanitarian consequences largely unacknowledged by major powers.
15,000+
deaths
Victims: Masalit ethnic community in El Geneina, West Darfur(UN estimates 10,000–15,000 killed in El Geneina alone in April–June 2023; U.S. State Department has characterized the killings as genocide)
1,000+
deaths
Victims: Civilian population of El Fasher, North Darfur(Over 1,000 killed during the siege as of mid-2025; UN describes risk of genocide; 2 million civilians trapped with limited food, water, and medical access)
Victims: Women and girls across RSF-controlled areas(Deaths from sexual violence not separately tallied; UN documents thousands of rape victims; many raped victims were subsequently killed)