Inside the secret battle to document RSF abuses in Sudan

What Happened

Sudan's National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) operates secret monitoring teams in Darfur to document atrocities by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to NCHR Darfur director Rahmatullah Mohammedin Abakar in an interview with Al Jazeera. Abakar stated that the RSF has committed mass executions amounting to genocide, citing reliable reports of mass graves in el-Geneina and el-Fasher, and documented nearly 4,000 cases of sexual violence across Darfur, with 20% of victims being girls under 18. He also reported 1,480 civilians detained in el-Fasher, including 446 children and 360 women, and approximately 10,000 detainees in Nyala's Daqris prison, 9,000 of them women. These findings align with a June 2026 UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights report on conflict-related sexual violence and a UN fact-finding mission that concluded the RSF's siege of el-Fasher constituted genocide. Amnesty International separately accused the RSF of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in el-Fasher. The RSF denies the allegations, calling them 'manufactured'. NCHR teams face severe access restrictions and lack of cooperation from the RSF, hindering evidence gathering.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The documentation effort is critical for preserving evidence of atrocities in a conflict that has displaced nearly 14 million, as international accountability mechanisms struggle to deter further crimes. The NCHR's work lays the legal foundation for future prosecutions under international humanitarian law, particularly as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) advances into RSF-held areas and uncovers further evidence of abuses.

Watch For

Monitor whether the NCHR's evidence prompts formal investigations by the International Criminal Court or other tribunals, and how the RSF responds to accusations. Watch for SAF advances potentially opening access to mass grave sites and detention centers, and for further international reports or sanctions targeting RSF leadership.