The situation in Sudan is tragic. Since the start of the civil war, civilians have been paying the heaviest price. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese militia, are terrorizing residents of Khartoum and the neighboring towns of Omdurman and Bahri. The abuses committed by this militia are appalling: rape, torture, ethnic violence and expropriations are commonplace.
The testimonies collected from civilians are heartbreaking. Mohammad Gamal, a resident of Khartoum, recounts how he fell victim to the RSF, who wrongly accused him of being an enemy of the state and attempted to strip him of his property. Fortunately, Mohammad was able to remain calm and escaped unscathed. But many others were not so lucky.
The situation is even more alarming in the Darfur region, which has been the scene of inter-ethnic violence for decades. Clashes between African militias and the RSF have forced many civilians to flee their homes. The killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdallah Abakar was a tragic turning point. This triggered a veritable ethnic cleansing by militias, who killed civilians en masse.
Rape is used as a weapon of war, whether by soldiers of the regular army or by FSR militiamen. Video evidence of these abominable acts is circulating on social networks, denouncing these crimes which often go unpunished.
The international community must act to put an end to these abuses. It is essential that concrete measures are taken to protect civilians and bring those responsible for these atrocities to justice. The media and NGOs have a crucial role to play in reporting these events and raising public awareness.
Until the situation improves, Sudan’s civilians continue to suffer in the shadows, victims of a war that is beyond their control. It is our duty to make their voices heard and support those fighting for peace and justice in the country.