Sudan War Survivors File First International Case Against RSF Over Alleged War Crimes

Nairobi: Survivors of atrocities committed during Sudan's ongoing civil war have filed the first known international legal case against members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accusing them of torture, sexual violence, and other serious abuses.

The case, filed in Kenya, marks the first attempt to prosecute RSF members outside Sudan for alleged crimes committed during the conflict, which has pitted the paramilitary force against the Sudanese Armed Forces for more than three years.

The complaint was submitted by the international legal advocacy group Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and details allegations of torture, rape, unlawful detention, and other forms of abuse carried out by RSF fighters in and around Sudan's capital, Khartoum, between April 2023 and March 2025, when large parts of the city were under RSF control.

The lawsuit seeks the prosecution of 10 RSF members believed to be residing in Kenya. Twelve survivors are listed as complainants in the case.

According to the filing, victims were detained in facilities lacking food, clean water, and basic sanitation. They allege they were beaten, sexually assaulted, and subjected to other forms of cruel treatment. Some detainees were reportedly forced to transport bodies from detention centres.

Human rights organisations and United Nations investigators have repeatedly accused the RSF of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict.

The RSF emerged from the notorious Arab Janjaweed militias, which were accused of carrying out widespread atrocities against non-Arab communities in Sudan's western Darfur region in the early 2000s. Human rights groups have since alleged that the RSF has been responsible for mass killings, ethnic violence, and systematic sexual abuse, particularly in Darfur, where the group continues to maintain a strong presence.

Kenya's ties with the RSF have also drawn attention. Kenyan President William Ruto has previously hosted talks with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, stating that the discussions were aimed at advancing peace efforts in Sudan.

LAW founder Antonia Mulvey said the case was brought under Kenya's International Crimes Act of 2008. She argued that Sudan's judicial system is currently incapable of delivering justice to victims because of the ongoing conflict and institutional breakdown.

Mulvey also noted that the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court is largely limited to crimes committed in Darfur and does not adequately cover atrocities alleged to have occurred in Khartoum and surrounding areas.

The Sudan conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in devastating human and humanitarian consequences. Fighting between the Sudanese military and the RSF has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.

In October last year, more than 6,000 people were reportedly killed within three days during an attack on the Darfur city of El Fasher. United Nations-appointed experts said the violence could amount to genocide.

According to the US-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 59,000 people have been killed since the war began. Humanitarian organisations believe the true death toll may be significantly higher.

The United Nations has described the conflict as one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. UN estimates indicate that nearly 34 million people—roughly two-thirds of Sudan's population—are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The case in Kenya is expected to test the ability of national courts to pursue accountability for international crimes committed during one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history.