Friday, April 17, 2026 | Author – Alex Onyango | Nairobi-Kenya | Photo: Giles Clarke/Avaaz via Getty Images | GT-News |
Sudan’s devastating conflict has entered its fourth year with civilians enduring “relentless” violence, Amnesty International said Friday, warning that global inaction is enabling widespread atrocities.
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified since erupting on April 15, 2023, leaving a trail of death, destruction and mass displacement across the country.
“Time and again, the parties to the conflict have deliberately and indiscriminately targeted civilians,” Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard said. “They continue to block humanitarian aid from reaching those desperately in need.”
‘A war on civilians’
Amnesty documented systematic abuses by both sides, including unlawful killings, sexual violence, torture, enforced disappearances and looting — acts it says amount to war crimes and, in some cases, crimes against humanity.
In North Darfur, RSF forces and allied militias were accused of killing civilians and torching homes during a major assault on the Zamzam displacement camp in April 2025, displacing more than 400,000 people.
The RSF has also been linked to widespread atrocities in El Fasher after seizing the city following an 18-month siege.
Meanwhile, the SAF has carried out air strikes on civilian areas, including a deadly attack on a market in Kabkabiya, and has been accused of reprisal attacks against suspected RSF collaborators.
Civilians, activists, journalists and humanitarian workers have faced harassment, detention and killings, while the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan remains under RSF siege.
Warnings of escalating atrocities
Amnesty warned that violence could worsen in Kordofan and spread to other regions, including White Nile State.
“The window for avoiding a repeat of El Fasher in El Obeid… is fast closing,” Callamard said, urging urgent diplomatic pressure.
“Since the conflict erupted, there has been no respite for civilians… trapped in a relentless cycle of death, displacement and hunger.”
Global inaction under fire
The rights group criticized what it described as weak international responses, accusing the African Union, UN Security Council and others of failing to act decisively.
“Minimal, half-hearted and lacklustre responses… have only emboldened the perpetrators,” Callamard said.
Amnesty called for expanded International Criminal Court jurisdiction beyond Darfur and increased humanitarian funding, as well as unhindered aid access.
Arms flows fuelling the conflict
Amnesty also warned that continued arms transfers are prolonging the war.
It cited evidence of weapons from multiple countries — including the United Arab Emirates, France, China, Russia and Türkiye — being used in the conflict, in some cases in violation of existing embargoes.
The group urged the UN Security Council to extend the Darfur arms embargo to all of Sudan and called on the UAE to halt alleged support to the RSF.
“Unless the flow of arms to Sudan is cut, civilians will continue to suffer,” Callamard said.
‘Deliberately ignored’ crisis
Amnesty concluded that the conflict is being neglected by the international community despite the scale of suffering.
“The Sudan conflict is not forgotten; it is being deliberately ignored,” Callamard said. “This has to stop.”
