Crisis in Darfur: The Humanitarian Struggle and Escalating Gender-Based Violence

On April 15, 2023, violent clashes erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. According to the International Rescue Committee, these clashes resulted in the displacement of more than 8.6 million people including internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum seekers, and refugees. This conflict has exacerbated many of Sudan’s existing challenges, including ongoing tensions between ethnic groups, disease outbreaks, and economic and political instability. Particularly, it has had an extremely negative impact on the earlier-mentioned issues in Darfur. 

In fact, since the outbreak of violence in 2023, Relief Web has outlined that targeted violence in the capital was twice as likely to be deadly for civilians than targeted violence in other states in Sudan, with 32% of all reported civilian fatalities in the country being recorded in Darfur. 

Who is Fighting and Why? 

In Darfur, conflict rages between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and various rebel groups, including factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A). The SLM/A is divided into: 

• SLM/A – Abdel Wahid faction: Led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur, primarily consisting of the Fur ethnic group. 
• SLM/A – Minni Minnawi faction: Led by Minni Arcua Minnawi, comprising members from various ethnic groups, including the Zaghawa. 

The roots of this conflict are extremely complex, involving political power struggles, international involvement, environmental degradation, and competition for dwindling natural resources. From April to June 2023, fighting culminated in the assassination of Khamis Abakar, leader of the predominantly Masalit Sudanese Alliance Forces and governor of West Darfur. Allegedly killed by the RSF, this led to the RSF appointing a new government in West Darfur with their allies. The resulting violence targeted the Masalit population, causing mass displacement to Chad.

The Humanitarian Situation 

The United Nations has condemned the RSF and allied militias, labeling their actions within Darfur as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Said atrocities have been committed in the context of an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Massalit and other non-Arab populations in and around the city of El Geneina, West Darfur. 

The Human Rights Watch Report ‘The Massalit Will Not Come Home’: Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in El Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan, details how the RSF and their allied mainly Arab militias, targeted predominantly Massalit neighborhoods in El Geneina, with relentless waves of attacks. Abuses escalated again in early November, including torture, rape, and looting. Since April 2023, over half a million refugees from West Darfur have fled to Chad, with 75% originating from the Maaslit majority areas of El Geneina as of late October 2023. 

The Gendered Impact 

Regrettably, as with most instances of hegemonic violence, the ongoing conflict in Darfur has had a particularly devastating and targeted impact on women and young girls. The United Nations Population Fund has called the situation in Darfur a ‘War on Women and Girls’ in light of the stark increases in rates of GBV within the region since the escalation of violence. 

An estimated 6.7 million people are at risk of GBV in Sudan, with displaced, refugee, and migrant women and girls in Darfur being the most vulnerable. GBV and violence against women (VAW) are stark violations of international human rights legislation. The scale of these violations is abhorrent. 

Within the international human rights framework, GBV and VAW directly violate Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which protect the right to life and security of persons. The UDHR also guarantees this freedom and safety to every individual without distinction, including gender or sex. Furthermore, the African Union’s Maputo Protocol 2003 specifically addresses various forms of VAW and sexual violence, emphasizing the right to security of person. It is worth noting, however, that no Sudanese Government has yet to ratify the Maputo Protocol. 

The crisis in Darfur stands as a stark reminder of one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in recent memory. United Nations officials warn that this could lead to the largest hunger crisis the world has ever seen. The time to act is now. Governments, the international community, and individuals must unite to provide crucial support. Particularly, urgent action must be taken to protect the basic human rights and safety of Sudanese women. 

Follow & Amplify Sudanese Voices 

Journalists 

• Isma’il Kushkush 
• Mat Nashed 
• Kholood Khair 
• AlMigdad Hassan 
• Sudan Tribune 
• Hiba Morgan 
• Mohamed Mustafa 
• Radio Dabanga 

Donate 

Charities you can donate to that have an actual presence on the ground include: 

1. Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA)
2. Hometax Sudan
3. Sudan Solidarity
4. Darfur Women Action Group
5. SIHA network

Alternatively, an Edinburgh Initiative to raise the equivalent of one million cups of coffee, asking for donations amounting simply to the amount of a cup of coffee: https://www.gofundme.com/f/one-million-cups-for-sudan