The High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for an immediate investigation into violations by the Rapid Support Forces militia

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for an independent, immediate, transparent, and thorough investigation into all the violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.

In a briefing on Sudan yesterday, the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights revealed reports documenting RSF violations against civilians in El Fasher and Bara, including extrajudicial killings, mass killings, rape, attacks on humanitarian workers, looting, abduction, and forced displacement.

The spokesperson indicated that they had received shocking reports, videos, and other images showing grave violations of international humanitarian law and flagrant human rights violations committed by the militia. He also mentioned alarming reports of the killing of patients and wounded individuals inside the Saudi Maternity Hospital and at various locations in the First Class and Airport districts, which were being temporarily used as medical centers.

The spokesperson cited alarming reports of sexual violence, noting that humanitarian partners reported at least 25 women were gang-raped when Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia entered a shelter for internally displaced persons (IDPs) near El Fasher University. This forced the remaining IDPs—approximately 100 families—to flee amidst gunfire and intimidation of elderly residents.

The spokesperson added that reports also revealed serious violations during the RSF’s entry into Bara, North Kordofan, including allegations that five Red Crescent volunteers were summarily executed by firing squad. An estimated 50 civilians were killed on October 26, with the actual death toll likely higher.