Since the conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—both government-affiliated groups—Sudan has turned into a battleground for widespread human rights violations.

As Sudan's civil war continues since April 2023, both international and regional voices are increasingly demanding an end to the violence against civilians, especially women and children.The ongoing conflict has led to the rise of Islamist militias fighting alongside one of the factions with extreme brutality, perpetrating severe human rights abuses. Meanwhile, Sudan’s military leadership continues to reject all peace efforts, prompting the United States to impose sanctions on Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Chairman of the Sovereign Council, in January 2025, as announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The sanctions were imposed in response to allegations of human rights violations by the Sudanese army, including attacks on civilian infrastructure, hindering humanitarian aid deliveries, and Al-Burhan’s ongoing refusal to engage in international peace efforts. The U.S. State Department highlighted that Al-Burhan deliberately blocked peace initiatives, notably refusing to participate in ceasefire talks in Switzerland in August 2024, which were mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabia. His actions have been widely seen as a significant barrier to Sudan’s transition to civilian governance.

A November 2024 report by Amnesty International documented summary executions carried out by the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion in Khartoum and Omdurman, where unarmed civilians were executed in front of their families. One survivor recalled, "They killed my father in front of me, then set our house on fire. Their only reason was that we came from a region they suspected of supporting the RSF."

In Al-Jazira State, the militia group "Sudan Shield," which fights alongside the army, attacked the village of Kombo Tayba in February 2025, resulting in at least 26 civilian deaths, including a child, according to Human Rights Watch. The report emphasized that the attack deliberately targeted civilians and their property, with homes looted and crops destroyed by fire.

Similarly, a January 2025 report from a United Nations expert panel documented entire villages in Darfur being burned down by militias allied with the Sudanese army, causing mass displacement.

Women and children are disproportionately affected by these atrocities. A UNICEF report in December 2024 revealed that over 300 children were killed in indiscriminate attacks by the army and its militias. In addition, Save the Children reported instances of forced child recruitment by armed factions.Women, in particular, have been subjected to sexual violence as a weapon of war. An October 2024 report by Sudan Tribune documented widespread rapes in areas under Sudanese military control, with women being assaulted by fighters from the Al-Baraa bin Malik Battalion. Some victims even resorted to suicide to escape the stigma and trauma of their assaults.

The War’s Threat to Africa
Sudan's prolonged conflict presents a direct threat to Africa’s stability:
Humanitarian Fallout: The war has displaced over 11 million people within Sudan, while 2.7 million Sudanese refugees have fled to neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. This has placed a significant strain on host countries already facing economic and security challenges. A February 2025 report from the UNHCR warned that this mass displacement could lead to border conflicts and exacerbate ethnic tensions throughout the region.