A United Nations investigation has concluded that widespread atrocities committed by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, including mass killings, gang rapes, torture, and the forced displacement of civilians, amount to genocide in parts of the country. The findings are among the strongest accusations made so far against the RSF since the conflict in Sudan began in April 2023.
The UN fact-finding mission said the violence was deliberately directed at specific ethnic communities, particularly in the Darfur region. Investigators found evidence that civilians were targeted because of their ethnic identity, with entire villages attacked, homes burned, and thousands of people killed or forced to flee. Women and girls were subjected to widespread sexual violence, including gang rape, which investigators described as being used systematically to terrorise communities.
According to the report, the RSF and allied militias carried out coordinated attacks that included executions, arbitrary detention, looting, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The mission said these acts appeared to be part of a deliberate campaign to destroy parts of targeted ethnic groups, meeting the legal definition of genocide under international law.
The RSF has repeatedly denied accusations of committing war crimes or genocide, saying it does not target civilians and blaming rival armed groups for many of the reported abuses. However, the UN mission said it had gathered testimony from hundreds of witnesses, satellite imagery, medical records, and other evidence supporting its conclusions.
The UN investigators called on the international community to increase pressure on those responsible, strengthen sanctions, and ensure accountability through international justice mechanisms. They also urged all parties to the conflict to allow unrestricted humanitarian access, as millions of people across Sudan continue to face displacement, hunger, and insecurity.