Mohamed Suleiman Al Shazly
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to severe human rights abuses, particularly in South Kordofan, where the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have been perpetrating widespread war crimes.
Since December 2023, violence has escalated, marked by mass killings, abductions, and the intentional destruction of homes. These atrocities have left tens of thousands of civilians displaced, living in perilous conditions as they flee for their lives. Organizations such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) have been documenting these abuses, calling for immediate intervention by the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to protect vulnerable populations.
South Kordofan has long been a volatile region in Sudan’s complex conflict, especially due to tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). However, since the outbreak of the 2023 civil war, the RSF has intensified its operations in the area, targeting the Nuba ethnic groups. These civilian populations have suffered disproportionately as the RSF seeks to secure control of key territories, leaving entire communities devastated.
According to HRW, the RSF has engaged in systematic terror, targeting civilians with executions, abductions, and forced displacement. Between December 2023 and March 2024 alone, more than 200 civilians were killed, many executed in targeted attacks or caught in indiscriminate assaults. A particularly brutal aspect of the violence has been the widespread use of sexual violence, with at least 79 women and girls reporting horrific experiences of gang rape and forced slavery. Many of the survivors are left without access to the medical care they so desperately need.
Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, Senior Crisis Researcher at HRW, stated: “The RSF’s brutality in South Kordofan exemplifies the horrifying reality that civilians in Sudan are enduring. These actions are not only flagrant violations of international law but also a fundamental betrayal of Sudan’s people. The international community must act now to prevent further atrocities.”
HRW researchers have been on the ground to document these war crimes firsthand. In October 2024, HRW visited the Nuba Mountains and surrounding areas to interview survivors, local officials, and aid workers. The testimonies collected reveal the extent of the RSF’s brutality, including mass home burning, the use of civilians as human shields, and the looting of critical resources. One survivor recounted how her family was torn apart when RSF forces arrived, killing several relatives and taking others hostage. Many residents of villages such as Habila and Fayu were subjected to random attacks, including abductions and torture.
The assault on Habila in December 2023 was one of the deadliest. Reports from the region indicate that RSF forces killed dozens of civilians, many during house-to-house searches, and took several others hostage. One witness described how her father and uncle were executed after being accused of hiding weapons. For days, violence ravaged the town, with women, children, and the elderly particularly targeted. Those who survived were forced to flee, facing treacherous conditions along the way.
Fayu, another key town in South Kordofan, also endured horrific violence in January 2024. RSF fighters stormed the town, killing at least 21 civilians and abducting more than 30. Many of those taken were subjected to sexual violence. Survivors shared harrowing accounts of RSF fighters going door-to-door, looting homes, and committing acts of indiscriminate violence. Witnesses also reported seeing young men forcibly recruited into RSF ranks, while others were forced into labor, including digging trenches for the RSF's military operations.
Satellite images and video evidence from HRW corroborate the scale of destruction in the region. Entire villages, like Tungul, have been reduced to rubble, with survivors fleeing to areas controlled by SPLM-N for safety. By April 2024, over 47,000 people had been displaced from Habila County, living in overcrowded, unsafe conditions. The dire humanitarian situation has only worsened, as access to aid has been severely restricted by ongoing hostilities.
HRW has called for a UN peacekeeping mission to be deployed in South Kordofan to protect civilians and deliver humanitarian assistance. The organization has also urged the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Sudan to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to ensure accountability for the perpetrators of these war crimes. Despite overwhelming evidence and growing international condemnation, however, the global response has been slow and ineffective.
Gallopin emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating: “The scale of violence in South Kordofan demands immediate action. Sudanese civilians cannot afford to wait for diplomatic negotiations to bear fruit. The international community must deploy a robust civilian protection mission to halt the bloodshed.”
As of December 2024, Sudan’s internal conflict shows no signs of abating, and the situation in South Kordofan remains desperate. HRW and other humanitarian groups continue to monitor the crisis, urging stronger international intervention to protect civilians and hold the perpetrators accountable. The people of Sudan remain trapped in an ongoing cycle of violence and displacement, with little hope for an end in sight.
The unfolding tragedy in South Kordofan serves as a chilling reminder of the catastrophic impact of armed conflict on civilian populations. Unless the international community steps up with decisive action, thousands more will fall victim to groups like the RSF, who disregard both human life and international law. Only through sustained, coordinated efforts can the people of Sudan hope to break free from the cycle of violence and rebuild their lives in peace.
Mohamed Suleiman Al Shazly is a Sudanese-British novelist, short story writer, and media professional.
Mohamed Suleiman Al Shazly is a Sudanese-British novelist, short story writer, and media professional.
